NZ@Noon: Gimme shelter and a kid crackdown

Homeless people have made Napiers new bus shelter their sleeping quarters, causing concerns for commuters. Photo / Warren Buckland

Rough sleepers in Napier taking over a bus shelter and a crackdown on wandering children through Rotorua streets at night are just two of the stories making headlines around the regions today.

Homeless people have apparently made a home of Napier's brand new bus shelter - and its irking local businesses.

Wandering children beware - Rotorua police are cracking down hard on groups of kids roaming the streets late at night.

A Wanganui woman stole a children's play set from her friend's property - and got caught with it in her own front yard.

It's a cat-astrophy - a project which removed 1200 stray cats from Tauranga streets has failed to get local funding.

Three kiwi birds caught in gin traps in Northland are the latest casualties of ignorant hunters, say experts.

A mindful mum in Hamilton has come up with an innovative new approach to parental counselling - and it's taken off.

And finally, Masterton Intermediate School pupils are taking rocket science to dizzying new heights.