Thursday's papers: Defence Force considers moving 1000 more personnel to Upper Hutt; smacking controversy set to reignite; no heir apparent seen for Kennedy family.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald leads with the Prime Minister moving quickly to stop a new smacking bill getting beyond its first reading. The bill from an ACT Party MP would allow smacking for correctional purposes.
A bus driver assaulted by a passenger is praising schoolboys who saw off his attacker.
On Edward Kennedy's death, the paper says there is no family heir apparent poised to emerge with the same mix of gravitas, ambition and celebrity.
And a great white shark is pictured leaping from the water off Cape Town in South Africa.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post outlines the Government's youth package that promises holiday programmes for 30,000 disadvantaged children.
The "stick" to that carrot, the paper says, includes military style boot camps for up to 90 of the worst young offenders.
The Defence Force is considering moving 1000 more personnel to Upper Hutt.
Under the heading "Family curse" is a timeline of the tragedies that have beset the Kennedy family, now mourning Senator Edward Kennedy.
The Press
The Press says the smacking controversy is set to reignite with the drawing of ACT MP John Boscawen's member's bill from the ballot. It says National MPs are likely to be lobbied to at least allow the bill to go to a select committee.
Police are investigating after a woman was thrown in the boot of a car by a stranger. She kicked her way free.
A high class conman who once posed as a Saudi prince is reported to have come to New Zealand after evading Australian police.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times reports Air New Zealand plans a trial offer to students of $39 standby domestic fares.
A Dunedin man has appealed against his one year jail term, the longest sentence for animal cruelty given in New Zealand. The Southern Region coroner is urging stronger bike helmets for cyclists who travel at speed.
And the father of Regan McCormack whose body was found in Otago Harbour last month, is making a final appeal for information.
