Friday's headlines: Dropping of charges against Peter Whittall seen as making a laughing stock out of the justice system; house placed on wrong section section in the Far North; nine schools due for post-quake closures are putting a brave face on their fate.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald has the story of an Auckland couple who were surprised to learn that a house had been put on their empty section in the Far North.
The pair were told of the villa's mystery appearance by their lawnmowing man, and have spent seven weeks trying to get it removed. It was finally taken away on Thursday and placed two doors down, in its rightful resting place.
Waikato Times
The Waikato Times reports that Hamilton's new mayoral office will be spending an extra $165,000 on a "spin doctor" and a community and policy co-ordinator. One councillor says the increase is a ''frivolous and unnecessary waste of ratepayers funds''.
The parents and friends of Paul Arber are pictured hugging by the side of the Waikato River. The headline reads, 'A beautiful place for our son to die.' A body was pulled from the river on Thursday four days after Mr Arber went missing.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post has a close up picture of Peter Whittall, the former Pike River Mine chief executive with the headline, 'Families vow to keep on fighting'.
All charges against Mr Whittall have been dropped on the proviso that a donation is made to the families. But one widow has described it as 'blood money'.
The paper says the money, understood to come from insurance, would otherwise have gone towards Mr Whittall's defence.
The Press
The Press runs the headline, 'They didn't die. They were killed.' and goes on to report that the families want to pursue a criminal prosecution against Peter Whittall.
After the charges were dropped against Mr Whittall on Thursday, the paper spoke to one father who believes the case has made a laughing stock out of the justice system.
And the nine schools due to close in the post earthquake education shake-up are putting a brave face on their fate.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times also leads with the decision to drop charges against Peter Whittall - but quotes an Otago University law professor who says the decision would not have been taken lightly. The academic says the Crown faced a ''difficult choice'' and its final decision was a ''pragmatic'' one, made in ''good faith''.
The front page also carries a picture of Hank, a skateboarding bulldog who has taken to the hobby like a duck to water.
