NZ@Noon: Drink driver snaps

A Masterton man threatened to stab a police officer with a fork. Photo / NZME.

Stories making headlines around the regions today include a highly intoxicated man snaps at police and community funded equipment saves a man's life.

A highly intoxicated Masterton driver threatened to stab a police officer with a kitchen fork and then had to be pepper-sprayed before he bit the officer on the hand twice.

A defibrillator funded by a Rotorua community has proved its worth after it was used to save the life of a mountain biker.

A 4-metre-long juvenile whale which was found stranded in the Maketu Estuary yesterday, lost it's fight for survival after officials decided to end its life.

Hundreds of X Factor hopefuls sang in front of the shows two producers in Whangarei yesterday.

A new monthly Maori newspaper, Mangai Nui, was launched yesterday at Mitai Maori Village in Ngongotaha.

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If you love food and want to meet New Zealand Masterchef winners Nadia Lim and Kasey and Karena Bird make your way down to Hawke's Bay's annual Food and Wine Classic Summer Series - F.A.W.C! - this weekend.

Should you see a man with a whale and a penguin in tow on his way to Auckland, it might be this Wanganui artist.

And finally, after an uphill battle which included reconnecting with a lost love, a perfect wedding, and the huge task of raising $1.3 million, Hamilton woman Angela Sunkel has lost her battle with myeloid leukaemia.