NZ At Noon: Nudists, Kimbra, Monster Trout

Going naked at Papamoa beach is a topic that residents feel strongly about. Photo / Mark McKeown

Stories making headlines in the provinces at noon today include naughty nudists scaring locals in the Bay of Plenty, a monster trout wiping the smile off a fishermans face and questions being asked about whether we can really claim Kimbra's #1 hit in the states as our own.

People running around completely naked at Papamoa Beach and displaying "homosexual activity" in front of residents has upset the locals and scared them off, including the local Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator.

A Northland community's efforts to transform a former rubbish dump to a place of beauty have again been hit by thieves. Robbers took off with 100m of rope and 30 battens used to mark out a bush walk. After the first rope was stolen, volunteers knotted the replacement at every batten, so this time the criminals took the battens as well.

Rotorua local John "Keeno" Keen was "too stunned to smile" when photographed with a monster trout he caught in Lake Rotoiti. Fish & Game Officer Matt Osborne said the "very solid fish are right up there."

After Hamilton-born Kimbra reached No 1 in the US charts and featured on Glee, serious questions are now being asked about whether we can claim the song "Somebody That I Used To Know " as our own, given she only sings six lines and it was written by Aussie artist Gotye.

And if you don't care about that, here's a guy talking about V8's.

Boy Scouts face a bleak future in Te Karaka with the community scout hall set to close its doors because there's no community support to finance its future.

Over in the Wairarapa, dairy farmers are being reminded to make sure cows are properly prepared for transport before being sent to slaughter houses or other farms.

Meanwhile United Video Masterton has revealed retailers take about 30 percent of the price from each packet of cigarettes sold, but the owners are prepared to kick the income in a bid to discourage smoking. Team member Karyn Waitere also said she felt safer not selling smokes because the high prices mean they are a popular target for robbers.

The Christchurch City Council's much publicised no to fracking position has been labelled a "meaningless gesture" by neighbouring Selwyn District Council. Cr Mark Alexander pointed out it was easy for the city council to ban fracking "because I've never heard proposals of fracking beneath Christchurch City." Selwyn however has lots of farms potentially loaded with oil that can be fracked so the council thinks a bit more consideration is needed.

While a lot of communities like to rally around to raise funds for art galleries, Ashburton businessman Russell Ellis says a public rally in Baring Square on May 3 might be the public's last chance to halt work on that town's planned art gallery-museum.

Across the South Island, Celebrating New Zealand music month in Oamaru will be boosted with a special event commemorating Wheelman David Wilson's epic ride aboard his penny farthing cycle from Stewart Island to Cape Reinga.

And in Arrowtown today, the Catholic bishop feels "delight and relief" after a six-year court battle to build a $3 million to $5 million primary school for up to 112 pupils appears to have ended with the High Court dismissing an appeal.

The top trending stories on Twitter at noon are: Google Drive, The Avengers, Anzac Day, #CHCH, Chelsea, #NZ, and Breakfast.