Friday's headlines: Wet summer set to continue; Christchurch casino's earthquake excess skyrockets to $5 million; nude swimming warning signs wanted at Ladies Bay.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald reports that one of New Zealand's wettest summers is set to continue. MetService says many parts of the North Island are in for rain for the next 10 days and severe weather is likely for the Rena this weekend.
Tourists and visitors to one of Auckland's most popular beach areas say the sight of naked beachgoers there is "gross" and "offensive". They want Auckland Council to put up signs warning visitors of nude swimmers at Ladies Bay in St Heliers.
Waikato Times
The Waikato Times reports a man was killed on Thursday when a tree he was helping to bring down, fell on top of the digger he was driving, crushing him inside the cab.
Grant Martin, 49, was helping his dad on his rural Otorohanga property when the accident happened about midday.
Hamilton had record amounts of rain in December, along with the lowest recorded levels of sunshine.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post says a mystery foreign group obtained approval to buy a big chunk of New Zealand in a secret $1.3 billion deal last year. It says the sale did not proceed but it did inflate figures for approved foreign investment to almost $1.9 billion last year. That's almost five times more than the previous year.
The papers also warns not to pack your brolly away because the La Nina weather pattern is still lurking in the Pacific.
The Press
The Press says a call has been made for Christchurch City Council chief executive Tony Marryatt to resign. His defence this week of his pay rise of 14.4% has re-ignited debate over the issue.
Also on the front page it says Christchurch casino's earthquake excess has skyrocketed to $5 million.
Thousands of businesses are adjusting to higher insurance costs, with fivefold increases in premiums and excesses rising by up to 10,000%. Some insurers are refusing to cover the full value of a business.
ODT'
A fire that caused some people in Wanaka to flee their homes on Thursday is the lead in the Otago Daily Times.
Firefighters saved several homes from the blaze. The nearby Mt Iron reserve was also saved.
David Bain has been spotted relaxing in Dunedin, weeks before a book on his retrial is to be published and he makes his speaking debut at an international conference.
