1 Aug 2011

Morning Report: local papers

6:50 am on 1 August 2011

Monday's headlines: NZ SAS wanted back home when Afghanistan tour of duty ends in March; Christchurch man getting confidential medical files by fax from DHBs in Canterbury and Hutt Valley.

NZ Herald

The New Zealand Herald focuses on the unexplained death of Lee Ross McMurdo, 32, whose body was found on Friday afternoon by a group of relatives, including his 12 year old daughter. Police have now begun a homicide inquiry.

Also on the front page: a Herald survey shows that two out of three people want the New Zealand SAS to come home from Afghanistan when they finish their tour of duty in March.

Dominion Post

The Dominion Post covers a new water quality report commissioned by Fish & Game. The report warns that already polluted lakes and rivers will only get worse under what it calls a flawed policy.

It was feared a prison officer could die after he and a female colleague were bashed with iron bars by two inmates during a failed escape attempt at Waikeria over the weekend.

And the paper laments the departure of hometown boy Piri Weepu. He is the latest Hurricane to jump ship after signing with the Blues for next year.

The Press

The Press leads with ongoing earthquake problems, this time in Heathcote where about 100 properties have continual flooding from springs which popped up during the September and February quakes.

A stabbing, assaults and intoxication kept police busy around Christchurch at the weekend.

A Merivale man is upset, after receiving up to 100 confidential medical files on his fax machine. The fault appears to lie with DHB staff in Canterbury and Hutt Valley who are wrongly entering his phone number.

ODT

The Otago Daily Times reports that Mayor Dave Cull is sticking to his claims in a stoush with Dunedin City Holdings over money required by the city to pay its debts.

The Supreme Court has upheld an ACC appeal by a Mosgiel woman in a strongly worded decision concerning fitness for full-time work.

And the Regent Theatre has celebrated a $7.5 million redevelopment with a ''thank you concert''.