Homeowners asking Rugby World Cup rent of $20,000 a week; capital not prepared for major earthquake; jury service can be put off for a year; hundreds queue for fire-sale logs.
NZ Herald
Dozens of homeowners are asking more than $20,000 a week in rent during the Rugby World Cup, but the Hospitality Association says most of them are dreaming. The Herald says while top end listings are increasing, many remain unrented.
The Herald reports that from today people will find it harder to avoid jury service.
Dominion Post
Seven out of 10 emergency response centres are not adequately prepared according to a Civil Defence audit. It says they have major problems that could leave them unusable after a large earthquake.
The paper quotes American reports that say the trouble-plagued film The Hobbit will go ahead in New Zealand next year with Sir Peter Jackson at the helm.
The Press
Jury service can now be put off for a year as the Government embarks on historic reforms that will cut the number of jury trials.
Children from the earthquake-hit community of Spencerville enjoyed the spring sunshine on Sunday at a party organised by Civil Defence volunteer Darla Hutt.
Otago Daily Times
Security will be improved at the Forsyth Bar Stadium building site after a series of bizarre intruder incidents including the moving of a large crane from one end of the site to the other.
Hundreds of people on Sunday formed a 2km long queue at Wenita Forest Products' forestry block on Mt Allan for cut-price firewood, much of it salvaged from an area ravaged by fire in February.
