Friday's headlines: Total demolition of huge leaky Auckland townhouse blocks being proposed; disbelief over costs to strengthen a regional court building; no room on front of Ranfurly Shield for new holder's name.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald reports total demolition of huge leaky Auckland townhouse blocks is being proposed by desperate homeowners whose properties are so rotten they are beyond repair. The Home Owners & Buyers Association says the plan was to demolish the worst affected and to use the valuable land to re-house owners in much more intensive complexes of a much higher standard.
Auckland pensioners could lose a free evening rush-hour travel perk, as the Transport Agency deems it 'nationally inconsistent and unaffordable'.
Waikato Times
The Waikato Times reports Waikato are the new holders of the Ranfurly Shield but there is one problem: whereabouts on the trophy will they record that fact?
Taranaki, the previous shield holders, took the final spot on the front available.
The New Zealand Rugby Union has said it is up to the next winners to decide where they place the next plaque - whether on the back of the trophy or on some kind of extension.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post leads with lean times for Wellington families. The paper reports belt-tightening is beginning to cut deep as middle-income families in the capital run out of ways to trim costs in the face of shrinking pay packets.
Statistics ssued on Thusday show incomes increased by the smallest amount in the June quarter since 1999.
New research says driving at night is almost three times more dangerous in New Zealand than in other developed countries because of our poor street lighting.
The Press
The Press leads with early concept pictures showing the intact remains of the Anglican Cathedral fused with a domeshaped extension to form a new church.
Two of the four sketches, by architects Warren & Mahoney, show a large dome or ''sanctuary'' forming part of a new northwest extension, and large semicircular eastern extension.
Costs have been estimated between $73 - $84 million excluding GST.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times leads with disbelief over costs to strengthen a regional court building. The Government estimated it would cost more than $5 million to earthquake-strengthen the Oamaru court, a claim described by Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton as "unbelievable" and prompting the Government to look again at its figures.
And the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is to review its travel advice on the dangers of drinking arak in Indonesia after a coroner's findings linking the drink to the death of a former Dunedin man.
