NZ@Noon: Sick kids on track with sporting heroes

Some stories that are making headlines across our regions today: Kids get to challenge their sporting heroes in Rotorua, a Hawke's Bay student thinks household robots aren't just a fantasy and walls of dead animals line the car park of a Wairarapa bar.

It's not every day youngsters can challenge their sporting heroes to a race down the slopes of Skyline Rotorua.

Nearly 40 pigs, along with deer, goats, rabbits, hares and possums, made up several walls of bloody fur in the carpark of the Wairarapa Homestead Bar.

An endless video loop of cooking shows could hold the key to robots that can unstack a dishwasher and play Lego with the kids, a Hawke's Bay student of robotics says.

A 14-tonne gun turret from a ship used during battle in World War II has been restored and is now on display in Maungatapere.

And, a Tauranga martial arts organisation is giving local women the tools to defend themselves from violence.

Finally, there is a framed plaque in Muriel Tinker's flat in Wanganui East that sums up her life perfectly. It reads: "Gone Chopin. Bach in a Minuet. Offenbach sooner."