NZ@Noon: Prickly passion and a harsh penalty

Referee Shane Foster and touch judges discuss the players' poor behaviour. Photo / Warren Buckland

A Rotorua man's prickly passion to benefit a good cause and an assault that could lead to a harsh penalty for some Hawke's Bay touch players are just two of the stories making headlines around the regions today.

The "idiots" who assaulted an official during a rugby league game in Hawke's Bay may have played their last match.

A local man's passion for cacti will benefit the Rotorua Salvation Army.

A reformed smoker from Dalefield has used all the money he would have spent on tobacco on a historic hobby.

The tale of Toffee, the trans-Tasman tom cat from Tauranga, has taken a happy turn.

A Whangarei policeman is in court after a suspected car thief accused him of assault.

Far North police are reminding residents to make every effort to keep their property safe as the light-fingered brigade prepares for its busy season.

A famous funny man will be taking a serious message to the crowds in Wanganui tonight.

And finally a noisy little kiwi named Tīhoihoi (Maori for raucous) has become the 300th kiwi chick that Auckland Zoo has successfully incubated, hatched, reared and released.