In the papers: icy blast as winter weather arrives early; controversial former WINZ boss Christine Rankin to be appointed as a families commissioner; Japanese tourists spooked by swine flu are pull out of New Zealand.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald leads with Monday's icy blast and says thunder storms, frosty temperatures and tornadoes are likely throughout the week, as mid-winter weather arrives early. Hail and thunder storms are forecast to lash the North Island in coming days.
The paper says a new reporting system used to present NCEA statistics gives a more accurate outline than the system it replaces about how schools are performing.
Dominion Post
The paper features Garry Fraser, one of the first people at the scene after Jan Molenaar's murderous rampage began in Napier. He tells the paper how he helped rescue one of the stricken police officers amid a hail of bullets.
Japanese tourists spooked by swine flu are pulling out of New Zealand in droves. Southern Travel says nearly 700 Japanese bookings have been cancelled in the past week .
Thorndon residents could be forced to seek resource consent just to install a Sky satellite dish under a new proposal to protect the heritage of the affluent Wellington suburb.
The Press
The Government is poised to appoint controversial former Winz boss Christine Rankin as a families commissioner. The Press understands the appointment has been hotly debated, with senior ministers arguing about it at a recent Cabinet meeting and some questioning Rankin's suitability.
Girls have again outperformed boys in school exams in Christchurch. In year 11 NCEA results, 80.3% of girls passed level 1, compared with 69.7% of boys.
Otago Daily Times
The ODT quotes Prime Minister John Key as saying he would be reluctant to see police carry guns all the time because it would raise a barrier between them and the public.
