Some stories making headlines across the regions today include: A pod of orcas entertain people in Hawke's Bay, a huge mural in Rotorua is doing great things for the city and Far North students are turning a waste product into a luxury item.
A pod of about seven orca entertained crowds as they dipped and dived in the shallow waters off Ahuriri, before heading out of sight in the direction of Bay View.
![Artists Jacob Chrisohoou (left) and Jonny4higher have finished their mural in Rotorua's city centre. Photo/Stephen Parker.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/36AVVHUPY6H6UFWS6R72GOTXLM.jpg?auth=b51c7b5f7b633edda5105b57138e066348f92babaea78ad13fb2ac4c4c63b834&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
A colourful mural more than eight metres high is doing big things for Rotorua's city centre, its creators say.
A ship which got into trouble after leaving the Port of Tauranga yesterday has this morning returned to local waters.