Thursday's headlines: Smartphones could be the cause of sleeplessness; Coroner questions how young killer was allowed to roam the streets after midnight; new dresscode issued by CERA for red zone in Christchurch.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald leads with a coroner questioning how the young killer of a Scottish tourist was allowed to roam the streets of Taupo after midnight.
Jahche Broughton, 14, used a bat to fracture Karen Aim's skull in 2008. In his report on the death of Ms Aim, Taupo coroner Wallace Bain asked whether there should be any criminal or other responsibility for those who were supposed to be supervising the teenager.
Waikato Times
The Waikato Times reports mobile devices such as smartphones, could be the cause of sleeplessness and as a possible cause for a jump of 50% in the number of young people scoffing sleeping pills as a result.
Sleep expert Dr Alex Bartle told the paper there is ''huge concern'' among experts that people are reaching for prescriptions instead of looking at why they cannot sleep.
Dominion Post
Changing its masthead to a more Elvish theme, The Dominion Post devotes its front page to all things Hobbit, with a large picture of Sir Peter Jackson waving to crowds before Wednesday's world premiere.
Before heading into an aftermovie party, Andy Serkis, who plays Gollum, said the film was like a ''huge feast that you sink your teeth into''.
The Press
The Press headline is 'Teamwork busts taggers'. A teenager suspected of being one of Christchurch's most prolific taggers, has been apprehended as part of a new hardline approach to the vandalism.
Senior Sergeant Glenn Nalder says he was identified via a council move to map complaints to its graffiti hotline and collate photos of the tags.
And seeing red over a new dresscode issued by CERA: a worker in the red zone says it is "bizarre and ridiculous" that he may not be able to wear shorts or T-shirts to work.
The paper reports under the new guidelines, red zone workers would be required to long sleeved tops and trousers in an effort to protect workers from skin cancer, as well as cuts and abrasions.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times leads with the University of Otago planning to make its Dunedin campus smoke-free from the beginning of 2014. A policy banning smoking within six metres of any building on campus was introduced in 2010.
The paper also reports that in a demonstration of solidarity, older KiwiRail workers are offering their jobs to redundant Hillside employees and electing to retire.
