4 Apr 2012

Morning Report: local papers

7:13 am on 4 April 2012

Wednesday's headlines: Disputes over mortgagee sales by banks reach record levels; rates rise of 7.47% proposed for Christchurch; acres of empty seats at Westpac stadium in Wellington.

NZ Herald

The New Zealand Herald reports banks are facing a customer revolt as disputes over mortgagee sales reach record levels.

The paper says the frustration from customers is being heard in the courts and by the Banking Ombudsman, as homeowners complain they're being left with debt from quick-fire sales.

The paper also reports on an official inquiry into the death of a New Zealand soldier in Afghanistan.

Waikato Times

The Waikato Times says the head of a women's rights group is calling for an overhaul of legal protection orders following the death of Ranjeeta Sharma, who was set on fire on a Waikato roadside.

In the High Court in Hamilton, her husband was on Tuesday sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum non parole period of 14½ years.

Dominion Post

The Dominion Post says acres of yellow seats at Westpac stadium for both Hurricanes and Phoenix games are raising concerns about shifting crowd habits.

The paper says crowds for both codes have been well down in the current season, and asks why.

In another front page story: a new survey is said to show that teenagers have less sex and take fewer drugs than is widely believed.

The Press

The Press reports that it's hoped a proposed rates rise of 7.47% will help save Christchurch's quake-hit Town Hall and fund a new Convention Centre.

AMI Stadium, Centennial Pool and the QEII sport and recreation centre appear destined for demolition, with Christchurch City Council staff recommending that new facilities be built to replace them.

And a new mosquito species may be causing Cantabrians to suffer bad reactions to bites.

The paper talks to one woman who had to take more than a week off work to recover after a severe reaction, and to an expert who says the striped mosquito has been spreading south over the past few years.

ODT

The Otago Daily Times features a report into corrupt behaviour within the pokies sector, describing the problems as 'all pervasive and pernicious.'

Queenstown Lakes District councillors have voted to reduce the district's three wards to two by abolishing the Queenstown ward and councillor, and abolishing an Arrowtown community board.