Friday's headlines: Nearly 55,000 people may leave Christchurch over the next five years because of the earthquakes; education groups will join forces next week against the Government's revised class student-teacher ratio funding formula.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald says the family of a boy left unconscious and bleeding with a hole in his lip say someone will die if young people continue playing a schoolyard game. In the game, called "headlocking", students are held in a wrestling-style sleeper hold until they black out.
Education groups will join forces next week in a bid to overturn the Government's revised class student-teacher ratio funding formula.
Waikato Times
The Waikato Times says hundreds of children are arriving at hospitals having abused alcohol or drugs, with some as young as 12 being treated for full-blown addictions.
Police in Hamilton are investigating the sudden death of a rest home resident.
Workers in Hamilton City Council's office building are working on despite a persistent smell of sewage. It's because of a botched plumbing job at a nearby block of public toilets.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post says workers could soon refuse to work in earthquake-prone buildings under new employment agreements.
Eight heritage buildings in Wellington being considered for earthquake strengthening grants, are pictured.
And a Hataitai architect is swapping his brick chimney for a wooden one in a move to protect his family.
The Press
The Press reports the Government courting Australians as potential investors in the rebuilding of the city.
Christchurch Central Development Unit director Warwick Isaacs has been talking to Australian banks and investors about the city's earthquake recovery projects.
Nearly 55,000 people may leave Christchurch because of the earthquakes over the next five years, according to a poll.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times says a public email attack by a Dunedin City Council member on a colleague has been described as offensive and destructive by Mayor Dave Cull. The email from Cr Lee Vandervis was critical of Cr Colin Weatherall.
Dunedin hospital staff have apologised to the family of a woman who died from an abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture that the department failed to diagnose.
Kane Harvey's family is pictured celebrating his 15th birthday after a lucky escape by the teenager. Kane was injured when he was swept off rocks at Cape Saunders on Sunday while fishing.
