Friday's headlines: Almost every driver tested by police in Christchurch for driving under the influence of drugs, failed the test; liquor ban mooted in Martinborough town square on the day of the Toast Martinborough festival; Kopu bridge to be demolished.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald has a picture of a man sent to prison for 10 days for refusing to take an oath at the Auckand District court.
The paper says the engineering consultant was sentenced after refusing to take a juror's affirmation on Wednesday. It says the man has been granted bail while an appeal is lodged at the High Court.
Meanwhile Joe Karam has told the paper David Bain does not know whether to laugh or cry about new evidence, said to clear him of murdering his family 19 years ago.
Waikato Times
The Waikato Times dedicates its entire front page to the sentencing on Friday of the man convicted of murdering Rodney Tahu. Menzies Hallett shot Mr Tahu outside a Turangi service station in 1979, but was only found guilty at a High Court trial earlier this year.
And the Kopu bridge is to be demolished. The decision was announced on Thursday following a year of public consultation by the NZ Transport Agency.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post says petrol prices have hit an alltime high after BP and Z Energy raised petrol prices by 4 cents per litre on Thursday. Automobile Association spokesperson Mark Stockdale told the paper recent rises in the price of refined fuel had already been passed on and this latest petrol price increase isn't justified.
In other news: police are considering a liquor ban in Martinborough's town square on the day of the Toast Martinborough festival. The paper says the police are considering the ban to stop people who are not participating in the event, from causing trouble.
The Press
The Press reports that almost every driver tested by police in Christchurch for driving under the influence of drugs, failed the test. The paper says police now intend to substantially increase the number of officers testing suspected drugged drivers by the end of the year.
And the former Academy Cinema building in the arts centre is likely to open as a restaurant and bar before Christmas. The paper says at least $3 million has been spent restoring the damaged building.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times says residents with non-complying wood burners in several central Otago towns are set to be targetted in a bid to improve air quality.
And the paper says the race for the Waitaki mayoralty has been thrown wide open after incumbent Alex Familton announced he would not seek a third term.
