Wednesday's papers: outdoor centre to be prosecuted over the deaths of six school pupils and a teacher; verdicts on televised debate between Key and Clark; woman severely burned by hotwater bottle during labour.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald says the Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre is being prosecuted over the deaths of six school pupils and a teacher on the Mangetepopo River.
Question were raised over why the centre did not heed heavy rain warnings before the river deaths on 15 April.
On the election trail: Labour is reported to be designing a potentially large spending plan to stimulate the economy - but will not say before the election how much it might spend or how much it might add to Government debt.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post reports the father of one of the Mangetepopo River victims, Andy Bray, says the prosecution of the centre "doesn't change anything" and does not bring his daughter Natasha back.
As far as Tuesday night's televised leaders debate is concerned, the paper says National leader John Key looks to have set his election campaign back on course with a steady performance against the more experienced Helen Clark.
And the paper reports that ghosts and ghouls are getting the boot at a growing number of anti-Halloween celebrations - including some supported with public money.
The Press
The political editor of The Press says Mr Key surprised Miss Clark with a confident performance in a fiery television debate.
Also on the front page: a Christchurch woman required skin grafts for severe burns after a midwife put a scalding hot-water bottle on her anaesthetised feet during labour.
In sport: Dayle Hadlee's cricket coaching skills have been recognised on the world stage with his appointment as a head coach at the International Cricket Council's Global Academy in Dubai.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times says Environment Southland councillor Ali Timms is returning home with a holiday story that will take some beating: being shipwrecked and clinging to a dinghy in shark-infested waters in Fiji
The Silver Ferns are in Dunedin to play England on Wednesday night in the second of three netball Tests.
