Friday's papers: Train stopped by a sea of mud; 1am bar ban wanted by police; Christchurch Arts Festival begins.
The New Zealand Herald has Simon Power's proposed reforms for the justice system on the front page. He is considering making evidence about a complainant's previous sexual relationships inadmissible without the agreement of a trial judge.
Two Fijian teenagers have been banned from returning to school after their mother's work permit expired.
Tickets for soprano Hayley Westenra's first concert in Taiwan sold out in a day.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post pictures a train that was stopped by a sea of mud on the Upper Hutt line on Thursday.
Storms caused further commuter disruption when another slip blocked State Highway 1 at Pukerua Bay and heavy winds closed the Rtimutaka Hill Road.
The paper says a man withdrew nearly $200,000 in savings after Westpac turned down a mortgage application. The paper also has a warning from the Retirement Commissioner about a looming superannuation crisis.
The Press
The Press reports a top police officer wants a new law that would ban people from entering bars after 1am. Inspector Derek Erasmus also wants bars to close by 3am in a bid to help police deal with the drunken behaviour of weekend patrons.
The Corrections Association says an attack on convicted killer Clayton Weatherston is imminent - even if he is kept in isolation in prison.
The Christchurch Arts Festival begins in Cathedral Square on Thursday night.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times has more about plans by the Justice Minister to remove the defence of provocation for murderers. Cabinet will consider Simon Power's proposed reforms in the next few weeks, but the Prime Minister has already given his approval.
The paper says it's now unlikely that work on the Leith Lindsay flood protection scheme in Dunedin will begin before the summer of 2010 - 2011. The regional council is still waiting for a final cost estimate for the scheme.
