Wednesday's headlines: Queensland fire tragedy; temperatures in in Christchurch reached 20 degrees on Wednesday for the first time in three months; teenagers in Alexandra warned to stop riding in closed boots of cars.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald leads with coverage of the tragic Queensland fire on Wednesday in which 11 people died - eight of them children or teenagers.
The paper spoke to a New Zealand relative - who told how her uncle screamed at his family to jump from an upstairs window, but then watched in horror as they ran the wrong way.
And the paper has also spoken to insurance companies which say homeowners who secretly rent their property during the Rugby World Cup will not be covered if their house is trashed.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post has a profile of veteran radio broadcaster Graeme Moody, 60, who died in a surfing accident in Australia on Wednesday. He drowned while surfing off the far north coast of New South Wales.
And a Hawke's Bay merchant banker has pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour outside a Taupo bar. The police say Sam Kelt became abusive to staff and patrons and refused to leave when asked.
The Press
The Press reports the Government says it could use emergency earthquake powers to change a decibel noise limit which is preventing residential development in Kaiapoi.
It says if Waimakariri District Council does not resolve this in a month, it may step in.
The paper also looks at a massive turnaround in the weather in Christchurch which reached 20 degrees on Wednesday for the first time in three months.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times reports police in Alexandra are warning teenagers to stop riding in the closed boot of cars - after two vehicles were caught in the act in the past fortnight.
And a Dunedin City Council manager has quit amid accusations of bullying within his department, but he denies staff problems played any part in his decision. Customer services manager William Robertson resigned and left his role on the same day.
