11 Jul 2013

Morning Report: local papers

6:53 am on 11 July 2013

Thursday's headlines: Plans to charge GST on goods purchased from overseas websites; man assaulted while trying to stop a drunk person from driving; restructuring in southern police district.

NZ Herald

'Judge's warning: this man is a menace' is the headline in The New Zealand Herald. The paper has a picture of a man sentenced to prison for fleecing an elderly woman of more than $20,000.

During sentencing the judge told the court the man combed Auckland looking for frail and vulnerable women, and labelled him a menace.

And the paper has more details of the alleged assault case against Sir Owen Glenn. The paper has obtained court documents from Hawaii relating to the 2002 case.

Waikato Times

The Waikato Times has a picture of Bruce McCulloch, 45, who was assaulted while trying to stop a drunk person from driving. He told the paper he ended up parking his truck across the driveway of a property to stop the driver, but was punched and knocked out, and ended up in hospital.

Rugby players from the Te Awamutu Sports Club who were involved in a brawl at a pub, have been stood down pending a police investigation.

Dominion Post

The Dominion Post leads with the fallout from a 25% funding cut at the Crown prosecution service. Critics say the budget cuts are unreasonable, and that the pressure to get rid of cases cheaply could result in an increase in plea bargains.

Online shoppers face being chased for GST on all goods and services bought from overseas websites. A working party to investigate collecting the tax has been set up by Inland Revenue and Customs.

The Press

The Press has more on those plans to charge GST on goods purchased from overseas. The head of the Retailers Association told the paper at least $1 billion of goods are bought tax-free each year.

In other news, the paper says one of the military's most senior commanders will face court martial over allegations stemming from an affair with a subordinate.

ODT

The Otago Daily Times says officers in the southern police district face an uncertain few months while restructuring takes place. The paper says many officers will have to reapply for their jobs and compete for positions within the new district plan.

And the paper has pictures of a sell-out crowd at the Illuminate Paint Party in Dunedin last night. Most of the 5000 party-goers dressed in white, and waited for four tonnes of pink, orange and green paint to be unleashed.