Transmission Gully route will create fewer environmental problems and be less prone to earthquake damage; construction of a $75 million expansion of Westfield Riccarton starts next week; future of $2 billion Five Mile housing project near Queenstown remained unclear.
NZ Herald
The paper has Auckland Mayor John Banks saying police calls to end 24-hour liquor licensing in central Auckland would threaten efforts to earn the city a reputation for First World hospitality. Mr Banks said the police would be struggling to get the council to reverse its position, especially as they originally supported 24-hour licensing. The New Zealand Herald also says Tony Veitch paid his former partner up to $170,00 following his assault on her - far more than the $100,000 originally reported.
Dominion Post
The paper says a new slimmed-down Transmission Gully route will have one fewer interchange, create fewer environmental problems and be less prone to earthquake damage, while saving $275 million. The Dominion Post also has a four page pullout spread funded by Transit with details of the route. The paper reports Matthew Ridge saying Tony Veitch's assault of a former partner is "despicable" and he may not want to appear on Game of Two Halves with him.
The Press
The Press says construction of a $75 million expansion of Westfield Riccarton starts next week with retailers saying it will add to Christchurch's brimming suburban mall culture at the expense of the central city. The paper also reports how Christchurch web developer Lucinda McCullough waited on a footpath for 16 hours to get her hands on a new iPhone and early today she had no doubt it was worth the effort.
Otago Daily Times
The ODT says the future of the $2 billion Five Mile housing project near Queenstown remained unclear last night, after the main company behind the project went into receivership. The Otago Daily Times also says three students were arrested yesterday when Dunedin police swooped on a pro-marijuana stall on the University of Otago campus. Green MP Metiria Turei, who was on the campus at the time, called the arrests a "phenomenal" waste of police time.
