NZ Herald
The paper reports the Commerce Commission has charged oil company Shell with misleading the public in advertisements promoting a more economical fuel. Shell has hit back at the commission, saying its Fuel Economy Formula advertisements are accurate.
The New Zealand Herald says police issued more than 100 speeding tickets on New Zealand's newest stretch of state highway before its official opening on Wednesday. The road past Mangatawhiri in northern Waikato eliminates a dangerous winding stretch of road on the main route between Auckland and Thames.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post says the Government has vetoed plans by one of Asia's richest men to buy a giant ironsands business in a $250 million deal.
Betting on elections and television contests such as Dancing With The Stars could become legal if the New Zealand Racing Board gets its way. The Board plans to ask new minister John Carter to expand New Zealand gambling to include events other than racing or sports.
The Press
The Press says another school swimming pool has been closed, with water-safety experts predicting more youth drownings. The Shirley Boys' High School pool in Christchurch was on Wednesday filled with concrete, just as new research from Water Safety New Zealand showed 239 school pools closed between 2003 and 2005.
The parents of more than 8,000 children will hear from ABC Learning Centres this week informing them the company's 127 New Zealand centres are to be sold. A call for expressions of interest from potential buyers was made public on Wednesday.
Otago Daily Times
The paper reports a group pushing for changes to road safety says up to 72 lives a year could be saved on New Zealand's roads if the legal blood-alcohol limit for drivers was reduced to 50mg per 100ml of blood. The Point Zero Five Group has asked councils, including the Dunedin City Council, to support a reduction in breath- and blood-alcohol limits.
