NZ@Noon: Regions reel from Paris attacks

Alliance Francaise co-ordinators Liz and Bernard Boutet are "sad, horrified and absolutely shocked" by the Paris terror attacks. They are pictured with their daughter Marine Boutet-Manning and her three children Rheuben, Nikau and Khan. Photo / Tania Whyte

Reports across New Zealand reflect the many, many links to people in Paris. Here are some of the stories from around the regions today.

A Whangarei woman shopping in Paris spent 20 horrifying minutes trying to get to safety when the attacks took place.

This French family were yesterday pitching a French flag with a black ribbon at their Whangarei home in a show of solidarity for the people of Paris.

A Tauranga man had a long weekend of worry and waiting for contact from three family members in the stricken City of Lights.

A former Napier Boys' High School teacher was an ear witness to a "tremendous sound" as he drove through Paris.

Heartbroken Rotorua residents have left flowers on the steps of the city's local French café in honour of French victims.

And a French café in Carterton has received an "outpouring of community support" over the weekend in response to the Paris terror attacks.

In other news, a small but mighty superhero was carried along Mount Maunganui Main Beach on his chariot yesterday.

And finally, onlookers watched helplessly as a ball of fire raged through a car park in Wanganui over the weekend.