Wednesday's papers: Half-yearly accounts paint better picture than the Budget, but Govt spending may still be capped; four-lane highway from Wellington - Levin within a decade; overseas coach appointed by Otago Rugby Union.
The New Zealand Herald reports Prime Minister John Key sees "light at the end of the tunnel" and New Zealanders can feel more confident they will keep their jobs, after half-yearly accounts painted a better picture than the Budget.
The paper's correspondent at the climate conference in Copenhagen, says UN spokesman Yvo de Boer remains upbeat about a positive outcome, despite ongoing disharmony.
And also from overseas: the most active volcanoe in the Philippines is pictured spilling lava into the night sky.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post says a four-lane highway from Wellington - Levin will near completion in a decade, but motorists may have to pay up to $5 to use Transmission Gully in order to get it built sooner.
After nearly six years, Victoria University researchers have established the tools to detect cancer when it is at the stage of a single diseased cell.
The Press
The Press reports Finance Minister Bill English may cap Government spending even as the recovery pumps billions of extra dollars into the Crown's coffers.
Aorangi School will close its gates for what could be the last time on Wednesday while lawyers battle for its survival in the High Court in Christchurch.
New Zealand's political negotiator at Copenhagen says "extremist tactics" by small developing countries are derailing the climate talks.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times says Dunedin's tertiary student numbers are expected to increase by almost 740 next year, with both the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic anticipating solid roll growth.
The Otago Rugby Union has broken with tradition by appointing an overseas coach to their top job - Phil Mooney of Queensland.
