Wednesday's headlines: Rabbits in parts of Otago at highest levels in more than a decade; drivers flouting the law against using cellphones while driving; coffins being supersized as obesity increases.
West
NZ Herald
The lead story in The New Zealand Herald is headlined '100 km/hr talking timebombs'. It reports that many drivers are flouting the law against the use of hand-held cellphones while driving.
A Herald reporter spotted 50 drivers breaking the ban in one hour on busy motorways. Police are concerned that talking and texting will lead to more carnage.
An Auckland doctor, who has been given months to live after being diagnosed with a terminal illness, calls for euthanasia to be legalised.
Dominion Post
In The Dominion Post, Wellington Coroner Ian Smith blames MPs for failing to bolster laws that could make quad bikes safer. He says the changes could have saved the life of a beekeeper, who died in 2008 near Masterton.
A retired Wellington principal, who has terminal cancer after inhaling asbestos fibres at work, is pleading for schools to be made asbestos-free.
The Governor-General's severance pay is to be doubled to the equivalent of six months salary.
The Press
A picture of a coffin maker next to an oversized casket is on the front page of The Press. Manufacturers are supersizing caskets as obesity increases.
West Coasters lament the Government's about-face on mining.
And the paper reports that Auckland cancer patients will be flown to Christchurch for private radiotherapy while Canterbury patients wait up to six weeks for treatment.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times says that the region's two professional theatres are reeling after funding changes announced by Creative New Zealand. Rabbits in parts of Otago are at their highest levels in more than a decade - precise numbers won't be revealed until later on Wednesday.
HMNZS Otago is due in its home port of Dunedin for the first time on THursday. About 4000 people turned out to watch a frigate, also named Otago, berth there in 1961, and supporters are hoping for the new offshore patrol vessel will have a similar reception.
