Thursday's papers: Waitaki District Council wants to lower its contribution to Dunedin stadium by more than $2 million; investors in World War II film lose their money; extensive coverage of funeral of slain police officer in Napier.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald reports up to 365 houses face the bulldozer under a $1.4 billion revision of the western ring route bypass in Auckland.
The Transport Agency on Wednesday announced that it favoured a combined "surface-tunnel" option.
In overseas news: the paper says an American man has arrived in Australia to face trial for the murder of his bride during a honeymoon dive on a Queensland shipwreck six years ago.
Dominion Post
Under a headline reading 'Mortgage Rates Too High," The Dominion Post quotes the Reserve Bank as saying banks must compete more aggressively over floating mortgage rates after the gap between them and the Official Cash Rate rose to record levels.
There's an extensive coverage of the funeral of Senior Constable Leonard Snee in Napier on Wednesday.
The paper says hardened police officers wiped away tears, tributes were paid half a world away and even Napier's crooks mourned, as all eyes turned to Senior Constable Snee's wounded colleague Grant Diver, who attended the service on a hospital trolley.
The Press
The Press reports Finance Minister Bill English has told banks to lower their profits, after the four big Australian-owned lenders reported total profits in excess of $4.5 billion.
National is defending list MP Melissa Lee against claims she used her production company to make election advertisements with public funds.
It seems investors in a proposed film on New Zealand war hero Charles Upham have lost their money. The company behind the film Mark of The Lion - Fat & Thin Productions - has assets of only $8000. Creditors are owed $1.8 million.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times says the Waitaki District Council has asked for its contribution to the Dunedin stadium to be reduced by more than $2 million, saying there are "major deficiencies" in calculations by the Otago Regional Council.
