18 May 2010

Morning Report: local papers

7:15 am on 18 May 2010

Tuesday's headlines: Disbelief at King's College over death of third student since February; Kiwis urged not to be jealous over the Budget tax package; All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen welcomed at his old school.

NZ Herald

The New Zealand Herald reports students from King's College are in a state of disbelief after the death of a third student since February. A Ministry of Education trauma team has been called in to the decile-10 school after the death of a pupil, aged 15.

And there's extensive coverage of the opening day of the trial of two men accused of murdering specialist police officer Don Wilkinson during a surveillance mission.

Dominion Post

The Dominion Post reports Prime Minister John Key is urging Kiwis not to be jealous if the rich get more from the Budget tax package - because the rich are crucial to the economy.

The clock is ticking for owners of leaky homes hoping to get relief from a deal in which the Government and councils will pay up to half the cost of repairs.

Homeowners must have registered a claim within 10 years of their properties being built to take advantage of the package announced on Monday.

The Press

On the Budget, The Press says what is shaping as the biggest tax package in decades could be worth more than $3 billion.

Hearsay evidence that helped acquit George Gwaze of murder and rape was "unreliable" and "irrelevant", says the Supreme Court in a historic decision overturning a jury's not-guilty verdicts. The court has ordered a retrial for Gwaze.

All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen found a warm welcome on Monday at his old school, Our Lady of The Assumption, in Hoon Hay.

ODT

The Otago Daily Times says a plan detailing how the University of Otago might improve its campuses over the next 25 years has received an enthusiastic response.

Secondary pupils can hold their after-ball parties in Dunedin as long as they are not on licensed premises and they follow a strict set of guidelines.

Police in Central Otago are calling for more firearms safety awareness, after a second duck-shooting incident at Tarras left a boy, aged 10, with serious hand injuries.