Child's kidnapper believed to be Chinese; assurance given to PM by NZ First leader over donations; Maori language immersion school using too much English.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald says family friends believe the kidnapper of Ma Xin Xin, aged five, is Chinese because she screamed in Chinese as she was being abducted.
Helen Clark says Winston Peters has assured her that New Zealand First did not receive donations from billionaire Owen Glenn.
A Maori language immersion school in Auckland has been pulled up by the Education Review Office for using too much English in class.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post reports food price rises in the year to June have reached an 18-year high of 8.2%.
Family members believe Ma Xin Xin could have been kidnapped in retaliation for a business deal gone wrong.
The man accused of carjacking and dangerous driving causing the death of Sergeant Derek Wootton has been named as Andrew Popo, 32, of Titahi Bay.
The Press
The Press also has the latest on the kidnapping.
The soaring cost of living is putting pressure on the Government and the Reserve Bank to deliver relief to householders.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters lashed out at journalists on Tuesday when his political dealings at home threatened to overshadow a delicate diplomatic mission in Fiji.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times says there is growing interest in rail excursions to and from Dunedin, and organisers hope this will promote suburban rail as a transport option.
Yusuf Islam, the singer formerly known as Cat Stevens, may visit Dunedin next year to lecture to an interfaith group.
A planning lawyer says the development of Queenstown and the Wakatipu basin has barely begun. Warwick Goldsmith was giving evidence at a hearing on the rezoning of Frankton Flats on Tuesday.
