NZ@Noon: 'T-plates' for tourists

A Northland man is awarded St John's highest honour for his 40 years' of service, and a new campaign in Rotorua to make tourists drive with "T-plates" on rental vehicles is gaining traction. These are just two of the stories making headlines around the regions today.

John Bain is awarded St John's highest honour after more than 40 years' association with St John in Northland.

A new campaign to make tourists display "T-plates" on rental vehicles is gaining traction around New Zealand, but Rotorua tourism operators are divided on the issue.

A world-first innovation to remove mangrove seedlings from 11 Tauranga Harbour estuaries is being trialled by an Auckland-based company using cutting blades attached to a hovercraft.

A 21-year-old man was admitted to Hawkes Bay Hospital last night with a moderate facial injury following a domestic related incident.

A Whanganui freezing works will be turning 100 later this year, and two former employees are planning a reunion to mark Affco Imlay's big milestone.

A dozen South Wairarapa schools have raised their hands together to be part of the Community of Learning initiative, while a similar number of Masterton schools were yet to climb aboard.