27 Jan 2009

Tuesday's newspaper headlines

9:11 am on 27 January 2009

Dunedin's ratepayers face a 7.8% increase; father of three stabbed after helping a woman being assaulted by a gang member; leaky-home developers held accountable for poorly built houses.

NZ Herald

"Courts tell leaky-home developers to cough up" is the New Zealand Herald's front page story. The paper says property developers are personally being held accountable in the High Court in Auckland for poorly built houses.

The paper reports New Zealand woman Ruth Corlett has been mauled by a tiger in Thailand. She was at an enclosure with her family on Sunday when the tiger bit her leg, inflicting a wound that needed 54 stitches.

Dominion Post

The Dominion Post leads with the story of how father three Mark McCutcheon died when he went to help a woman being assaulted by a Mongrel Mob gang member. He managed to drive away after being stabbed outside the Sandford Arms at Ongaonga, in Hawke's Bay, but later died.

The paper's front page picture is of dozens of newly graduated nurses. The paper says Wellington Hospital's intake of nurses is the biggest in years, and will help tackle staff shortages.

The Press

The paper says green groups are 'aghast' that more than $38 million earmarked for public transport, walking and cycling in Canterbury is being redirected towards roads and highways.

The Press carries a front page picture of Jack, the $12,500 'robodog'. The blue heeler was run over two years ago but the West Coast search and rescue dog is now back at work, held together with nylon and steel.

Otago Daily Times

The ODT's main story is that Dunedin's ratepayers face a 7.8% increase unless city councillors can find ways to trim back the bill. The increase would be to cover $1.05 million in additional spending.

Otago local authorities are warning people to conserve water and take care around long dry grass after a week of hot weather.