30 Apr 2013

Morning Report: local papers

7:14 am on 30 April 2013

Tuesday's headlines: Labour leader David Shearer says he and his colleagues are heartbroken at the death of Parekura Horomia; Qualifications Authority may soon allow students to sit tests online; girl killed by falling cupboard.

NZ Herald

The New Zealand Herald leads with the a picture of Gracie Parker, aged five, who died after a cupboard fell on her in South Auckland. Her parents and younger sisters were in the room next door.

Police said Gracie was at work premises on a rural property when the accident happened and its unclear why the floor to ceiling cupboard fell.

Waikato Times

The Waikato Times says the Qualifications Authority may soon allow students to sit tests online, when they feel they are ready.

The plan was outlined in a speech to secondary school principals, by NZQA chief executive Karen Poutasi.

Creditors of the Starplus Homes are likely to be repaid less than $1.5 million once receivers' costs and other fees are taken into account.

Dominion Post

Labour MP and former Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia, 62, who died on Monday is pictured in The Dominion Post. The paper says over the past few days he knew he did not have long to live and had said his farewells.

Secondary Principals Association president Tom Parsons says a system of online examinations in schools would be of huge benefit to intelligent pupils, who are being held back in the classroom while they wait for end-of-year exams.

The Press

The Press says Parekura Horomia had missed several high-profile events this year including Ratana celebrations and Waitangi Day. Labour leader David Shearer says he and his colleagues are heartbroken at the loss of the party's matua. He told the paper New Zealand has lost a truly great Maori leader.

Canterbury Regional Council officials have asked Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee to change the rules around low-emission woodburners.

Current rules prohibit them in new houses and people who already have one cannot install another one if they move.

ODT

The Otago Daily Times has a picture of a fire-damaged house in Gore. A 100-year-old woman and her son were dragged from the burning property on Toronto street, early on Monday.

And a university academic says Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull's decision to sidestep a speaking engagement with the Dalai Lama, appears to be aimed at avoiding the ire of China.