Wednesday's headlines: Lorde thanks her fans in a handwritten letter; $225 million council fund for quake repairs almost depleted in Christchurch; surplus land and property sale by Dunedin City Council expected to raise $10 million.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald features a picture of double Grammy award winner Lorde and refers to a full page thank you letter from the singer published in the paper.
In the handwritten letter Lorde, or Ella Yelich O'Connor says: 'Without your support there's no way I would ever have gotten to stand in the middle of the Staples Centre and perform in my school shoes'.
In other news: the paper says middle-class families are being targeted in this year's election and compares the family support policies of Labour and National.
The Waikato Times
The Waikato Times leads with the details of a Hamilton family's dramatic rescue from their house as it went up in flames. Lian Kawhena and her five children were saved from the blaze by Lorenza Hawkins who was visiting his cousin next door.
In other news: the paper suggests that the National party looks likely to increase paid parental leave, but says it has ruled out extending it to 26 weeks.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post says the Government has rejected implementing a coroner's recommendations that cyclists should wear high visibility gear all the time and that a gap of one metre between vehicles and cyclists be observed.
In other news: the paper says school uniforms are increasingly catering for different religious customs. Somali born Naenae college student Hawo Ali is pictured wearing a floor length skirt and hijab.
The Press
The Press leads with the news that Christchurch City Council has almost depleted a special $225 million fund established post-quake to pay for better facilities, roads and footpaths.
And there's a picture of Amelia Garvey, 13, who will miss her first day at Burnside High School after securing a spot in the NZ women's open golf tournament.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times reports on moves by Dunedin City Council to sell surplus land and property, in a move expected to raise about $10 million.
Taieri Gorge train driver Paul Jeffrey is pictured standing on a bridge where a live eel was left hanging and then hit by a train. He told the paper it's the second time an eel has been found at the bridge in the past three weeks.
