Some stories that are making headlines across the regions today include: Swans have been shot and poisoned in a public reserve in Wanganui, Rotorua siblings are helping Dora the Explorer with her te reo and Dannevirke vehicles are under siege by plagues of rats.
A swan has been shot and two others poisoned at Virginia Lake, prompting a call for people to report suspicious activity.
![Te Rangitakaroro, 9, (front) with sisters Mai Io, 8 and Arawa, 6, are the te reo Maori voices for Dora the Explorer set to screen on Maori Television this month.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/6ROKHVX4NCEACTXIFPCZTRASD4.jpg?auth=6e8372233e5a0588e2066ac7b69327e476a8bc5f12a337c379efed5efb4eb19a&width=16&height=9&quality=70&smart=true)
Three Rotorua kids are helping Dora the Explorer say 'Kia ora!'
Plagues of rats are chewing and gnawing their way around rural Tararua, chomping on wiring in vehicles.