Thursday's headlines: Farmers keeping their hands in their pockets at Fieldays; Irish rugby team tour red zone in Christchurch; suit against BNZ for cashing fraudulent cheques at casino branch.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald reports the Bank of New Zealand is being sued, after a convicted fraudster cashed cheques at a branch inside SkyCity casino without red flags being raised.
The paper says that over a six-year period, Herminia Lanuza wrote out multiple fraudulent cheques worth nearly $800,000 drawn on the account of her employer, many of which were cashed at the casino's BNZ branch. The firm she stole from, Domestic Agencies Ltd, has now launched a civil case against the BNZ.
Waikato Times
The Waikato Times reports on mixed fortunes from the first day of Fieldays at Mystery Creek. The number of farmers and visitors through the gate was up 2.3% on last year at just over 27,000. However, retailers reported more people 'were discerning with the money' and kept their hands in their pockets over big ticket items.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post leads on predictions of how Wellington would be affected by an earthquake of seven point eight magnitude. Disaster prediction software being used by GNS shows a quake of that strength could kill hundreds of people, destroy 600 buildings and cause $20 billion worth of damage.
A road rage driver who damaged a cyclist's $8000 bike has been banned from driving and ordered to do voluntary work for the Red Cross.
The Press
The Press reports Cantabrians leaving for Australia are running from a lot more than just shaky ground. Low wages, spiking rents, a 'dismal' night life and bureaucratic hurdles are also to blame for new statistics showing more than double the number of Christchurch people have crossed the Tasman in the past two years.
The paper also reports it was all green in the red zone for a short period on Wednesday afternoon, as the Irish rugby team took a tour of the central city.
The Otago Daily Times reports a former Liquor Licensing Authority judge Bill Unwin as saying the Government's proposed alcohol law changes would make it harder to get a license or to have one renewed.
A promoter hopes the Rolling Stones will perform at the Forsyth Barr Stadium next year.
Two companies with plans to milk nearly 11,000 cows in the Omarana area have gone into voluntary liquidation. They are Southdown Holdings and Williamson Holdings.
