Wednesday's headlines: Royal penguin found on Wairarapa coast; next election could be a cliffhanger; petition for water park hot spas and hydroslides at New Brighton signed by 20,000 people.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald leads with calls for a law change after an man was assaulted in the suburb of Pt Chevalier by three men who were on bail for violent offending.
The man spent three weeks in a coma and has serious brain damage. His family believe anyone charged with a violent offence should be kept in custody.
Veteran broadcaster Phillip Leishman is gravely ill with an aggressive form of cancer.
Waikato Times
The Waikato Times reports on the death of a promising young golfer in Auckland hospital on Tuesday after a head-on crash at Whatawhata on Valentine's Day.
Morning Report incorrectly stated on Wednesday that her name was Waikato Times reporter Maryanne Twentyman, which is not correct.
And the paper has the results of a political poll which show the next election could be a cliffhanger - Labour has risen to 36.3%, still well below National's 44.9%, but is closing the gap.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post has more on the political poll which shows National is no longer a sure winner in the next election. The paper says the rise of Labour is despite dissent within the ranks, heavy criticism of leader David Shearer's leadership style and a leadership challenge.
And first there was "Happy Feet" and now there's "Happy Feet junior". A Royal penguin has turned up on the Wairarapa coast, 2000km away from Macquarie Island. It's being treated at Wellington Zoo for dehydration and kidney failure.
The Press
The Press leads with a political poll showing 71% of voters from Canterbury believe John Key should have sacked Hekia Parata in last month's Cabinet reshuffle.
The paper says Ms Parata is rapidly turning into public enemy number 1, with 1500 school supporters delivering a motion of no confidence in her at an education rally on Tuesday.
More than 20,000 people have signed a petition calling for a water park with hot spas, wavepools and hydroslides to be built at New Brighton.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times reports the Dunedin Ratepayers and Householders Association failed to hold annual meetings and file financial statements, meaning the group is essentially "defunct".
Wanaka rabbits beware: Otago Regional Council has moved a full-time rabbiter into the area to deal with an increasing rabbit problem that the council blames on lifestyle block owners not doing enough control work.
