The South Island earthquake tops the morning papers on Thursday: a long rolling motion was felt by residents in Christchurch as people ran from restaurants in Queenstown; 'Death in the Snow' for pair in the Tararuas.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald leads with the South Island earthquake which had people running from restaurants in Queenstown and led to power and phone lines being cut.
Tuatapere resident Peter Molloy describes power lines swaying and the town going into a slow, gentle motion.
Police are trying to figure out how experienced tramper, Te Papa head, Seddon Bennington and a friend lost their way in the Tararuas.
In Fiji, members of the Lautoka Freemasons are held in police custody on suspicion of practicing witchcraft.
Dominion Post
Under the headline 'Death in the Snow', The Dominion Post features the death of the head of Te Papa and describes the blizzard-like conditions he and his companion faced in the Tararuas where temperatures dived to minus 20 degrees.
The soul searching continues for New Zealand First as leader Winston Peters says 'sorry' for mistakes during last year's disastrous election campaign.
The Press
The Press leads with the big earthquake and reports a long rolling motion felt by residents in Christchurch.
Christchurch hospital is struggling to cope with cases of swine flu and has plans to send new cases to other South Island hospitals.
John Key gets caught in the crossfire of a sibling dispute while on a visit to a Christchurch pre-school, narrowly missing a flying toy truck.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times has the story of a Doubtful Sound resident who heard swishing sounds and loud bangs during the earthquake. A Manapouri Motelier describes her two-story house swinging and swaying.
A psychiatrist says Clayton Weatherston was not mentally ill when he stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death.
Roxburgh Childrens Health Camp workers have celebrated after a funding boost stopped the centre from closing.
