New Zealand urged to take Sri Lankan asylum-seekers; new love could be to blame for ministers' use of a controversial travel perk, credit union bans customers entering Dunedin branch to make cash withdrawals.
NZ Herald
The paper says the Department of Internal Affairs is to ban three big gambling machine foundations from giving money to four harness racing clubs after an investigation into how the clubs were allocated millions of dollars in grants.
New Zealand is being urged to take some of the refugees among 78 Sri Lankan asylum-seekers plucked from a stricken boat en route to Australia.
And the New Zealand Herald reveals that new love could be to blame for ministers' use of a controversial travel perk. The top-three spenders on the perks for the year so far are divorcees who have recently remarried or found new partners.
Dominion Post
Two ministers who used their travel perks to spend thousands taking their wives on official overseas trips are refusing to follow Rodney Hide's lead and refund the fares. The Dominion Post says Mr Hide's decision to repay has put pressure on Revenue Minister Peter Dunne and Agriculture Minister David Carter to follow suit.
Preventive detention is being considered after details of the murders of two women in Christchurch's "House of Horrors" were revealed.
Sunday's Santa Parade could double as a victory celebration for the All Whites, should they win their football world cup qualifier against Bahrain on Saturday night.
The Press
The paper describes Cup Day in Christchurch as an Australian invasion. The New Zealand Trotting Cup, is traditionally dominated by home-trained pacers, but this year sees the largest Australian equine contingent in the race's 105-year history.
Otago Daily Times
Dunedin City Council staff and consultants are said to have done "most of the homework" required to convert three floors of the former chief post office in Princes St into a new library.
A credit union has stopped customers entering its Dunedin branch to make cash withdrawals in a bid to increase security, the Otago Daily Times says.
Wheelie bins could be gone for good as Dunedin city councillors consider last-minute changes to their proposed multimillion-dollar kerbside collection system.
