Friday's headlines: Looming medical crisis foreseen as New Zealand adults get heavier; no money on settlement day for a string of homes in Tawa and Pukerua Bay; boy struck by car during school cycle safety course.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald leads with a story that New Zealand adults are on average the second heaviest among 50 countries, prompting warnings of a looming medical crisis for some. The average person was estimated to weigh 81.3kg last year, lighter only than the average American, who weighed 82.7kg.
A picture of one of suspects in the killing of a solider on a street in London is pictured.
The Waikato Times
The Waikato Times reports there could be a crackdown on illegal duck shooting which would see Fish & Game rangers seizing the boats and vehicles of serious offenders in the Waikato. A man was caught chasing down and shooting swans in a motorised boat on a lake near Te Kauwhata this week.
The number of new trades trainees has fallen over the past few years and some in construction are warning of a looming shortfall of skilled tradesmen.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post leads with a story about an international company which has left homeowners in the lurch by failing to stump up the money on settlement day for a string of homes in Tawa and Pukerua Bay.
Under a picture of a 1971 Ford Falcon ute that has done everything from towing a two-tonne boat to lugging arc welders, a Falcon owner reminisces about his Ford that he says 'drives like a dream'.
The Press
The Press reports Conservation Minister Nick Smith has agreed to give Bathurst Resources access for a new opencast mine on West Coast conservation land . Despite Mr Smith's backing for the proposed mine on Denniston Plateau, the company faces further legal hurdles before it can start extracting coal.
And the paper has a picture of a school boy who has a broken leg after being struck by a car during a school cycle safety course.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times reports that politicians are set to fast track a bill to clamp down on the sale of legal highs following increased public concern about synthetic cannabis.
And the paper features the contorted faces of contestants in a chilli eating contest. The 17 contestants ate their way through some of the world's hottest chilli varieties for a spot in the national final in Auckland in July.
