Wednesday's headlines: street crime in Canterbury up 86%; tight market for teaching jobs; $5 levy for visitors to Stewart Island expected to net about $175,000.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald leads with a story about overgrown berms. In July, Auckland Council decided to stop cutting grass on berms in a bid to save $3 million. Rodney Cr Penny Webster told the paper that city residents in inner city suburbs should follow those living in the rest of the region and mow their own berms.
In other news: the paper reports on the tight market for teaching jobs. It says up to 100 teachers are applying for a single job, with many graduates heading overseas.
Waikato Times
Housing is the top story in The Waikato Times: buyers are facing record high asking prices and the region's new median asking price is now $383,000.
Meanwhile the paper says Hamilton's election campaign is getting down and dirty. Electoral Officer Jude Pani told the paper she is now investigating complaints under three separate sections of the Local Electoral Act.
Dominion Post
'Call to chop levies after ACC bonanza' is the headline in The Dominion Post. Labour is calling for an immediate cut to levies after the agency announced a surplus of $4.9 billion.
A rowi kiwi chick is pictured under observation at Wellington Zoo. Last month eight chicks died from a respiratory infection thought to have been caused by a fungus.
The Press
The Press reports that street crime in Canterbury is up 86% in the past year. Superintendent Gary Knowles said the rise can be put down to additional police patrols, which is leading to the arrest of more people for things which in the past went undetected.
In other news the paper says home buyers in Christchurch are queuing up to purchase properties that have been written off by banks, and local insurers.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times reports that a review of a court case for the four men jointly charged with murdering dairy worker Justin McFarlane, will be delayed as the police investigation continues. The four accused have pleaded not guilty to the charge.
And a $5 levy for visitors to Stewart Island is expected to net about $175,000. The paper says ferry, plane and cruise ship operators are set to build the cost into the price of passenger tickets.
