Friday's headlines: NZ man wanted by South American police; agreement in principle for tunnel to link Routeburn and Hollyford Roads; 60,000 visitors expected at Show Day in Canterbury.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald leads with the story of a New Zealand IT executive who stands accused of a huge Ponzi scheme that helped to bring down Alan Hubbard.
Gavin Clifford Bennett, 53, is accused by the Serious Fraud Office of orchestrating a $103 million fraud to fund a lavish lifestyle.
The latest Herald Digi Poll survey shows National below 50% for the first time since the last election.
Waikato Times
The Waikato Times reports an Otorahanga farmer is crying foul after being fined $50,000 for dumping effluent on his property.
The offending was detected during a helicopter fly-over by Waikato Regional Council.
A tourist boom during the Rugby World Cup has set up the Coromandel for a bumper summer season, with operators eyeing the Christmas holiday surge.
And there's further fallout from the V8 debacle, with Councillor Dave McPherson in a spat with Times readers who think heads should roll over the fiasco.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post reports an international hunt has begun for a New Zealand man wanted by South American police in connection with a drug syndicate operating out of Buenos Aires.
In a separate story, former Wellington public servant Sharon Armstrong has launched a website from her prison cell in Argentina, hoping to raise money for her defence.
Pike River families say they have found some reassurance in the charges laid by the Department of Labour on Thursday, but they still want to know the truth of what happened on 19 November.
The Press
That story leads The Press with the department acknowledging the high public in interest in who has been charged.
It says it's taking urgent steps to ensure the names can be published.
The rest of the front page is devoted to a celebration of Show Day in Canterbury. It's the 149th show this year, with 60,000 visitors expected on Friday.
ODT
The Otago Daily TImes reports that a $150 million, 11km, bus-only tunnel linking the existing Routeburn and Hollyford Roads has taken a significant step forward, with the Department of Conservation agreeing in principle to grant consent.
And the family of a six-year-old who died when her mother drove drunk, are shocked that police did not visit the woman after a lengthy call about her erratic behaviour an hour before the crash.
