Thursday's headlines: Structural engineer says Christchurch buildings performed appallingly in the February earthquake; child-sex killer may be chemically castrated; armed robbers targetting Orewa and Riverhead.
NZ Herald
A dramatic security photo of an armed holdup illustrates a report in The New Zealand Herald that robbers are targetting two small communities near Auckland.
Police believe at least two of four robberies in Orewa and Riverhead are connected, with three occurring over the past 11 days.
An accident-prone Auckland bus driver who crashed 10 times in less than 18 months, has now lost a bid to get back behind the wheel.
He hit a bollard, a wheelie bin, a bus stop sign, several parked vehicles, and drove the wrong way through a bus wash during his short career.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post reports that a child-sex killer may be chemically castrated after nearly 25 years of treatment in prison has failed to reduce his risk to society.
Peter Joseph Holdem murdered Christchurch six-year-old Louisa Damodran in 1986. She was abducted and thrown in the Waimakariri River.
Ahead of the Budget, the Government is said to be eyeing cuts to the KiwiSaver 20-dollars a-week tax credit.
The paper says there could also be changes to the way that contributions are paid by public servants.
The Press
The Press features the views of Auckland structural engineer John Scarry who says Christchurch buildings performed appallingly in the February earthquake.
He also claims that attempts to reform building quake standards are being subverted by the industry.
Patients are being moved to temporary wards at Princess Margaret hospital as Christchurch hospital copes with a loss of beds from the February earthquake and looming winter demand.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times reports more space for private jets will be provided in a $13 million upgrade at Queenstown airport to be completed by the end of next month.
Nonagenarian Ted Garland will be out before dawn for the opening day of the duck-shooting season this weekend - its his 81st season.
