NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald leads with what it calls one of the country's most elaborate property scams. The Real Estate Institute's Licensing Board was yesterday hearing evidence against three agents accused of trading properties between themselves to ramp up prices. Researchers have found virtually no effect on healthy teenagers exposed to a winter of smog in Christchurch. And in a front-page column, Dave Leggatt describes the hassle of going through security at the Beijing Olympics.
Dominion Post
The paper's lead says former Prime Ministers and Governors-General will rack up $920,000 in perks this year under a scheme that provides unlimited free flights and pension payments. The Dominion Post reports New Zealand's hopes for an early Olympics medal took a tumble when Andrew Nicholson fell out of his saddle in the eventing competition. And Napier police now have film of a man who regularly urinates on a particular parking meter in the city.
The Press
The lead in The Press says developer Dave Henderson got back nearly all the money he spent on buying the five properties included in his deal with the Christchurch City Council. The paper runs a photo of police armed with pistols and assault rifles arresting three men in a car in Woolston yesterday. And the perks story makes the front page, with former Prime Minister Jim Bolger describing the annuities as miniscule compared to other countries.
Otago Daily Times
The paper leads with the Otago Community Hospice cutting services because of insufficient funding. Clutha Mayor Juno Hayes is calling for Contact Energy to revisit plans for a hydro-electric development on the lower Clutha River, 12 years after the proposal was deferred. The Otago Daily Times reports the chief executive of Winter Games New Zealand saying the event could bring $50 million into the Otago economy, when it is staged next year.
