Thursday's headlines: Brown slightly ahead of Banks in super city mayoralty poll; rethink of massive power scheme on lower Waitaki River; $13,000 engagement ring stolen in Dunedin.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald says ACT leader Rodney Hide has put his political credibility on the line by backing MP David Garrett who has admitted stealing a dead baby's identity to obtain a passport.
Mr Hide has also admitted a conviction in the past for being drunk and disorderly.
The latest poll on the race for the super city mayoralty has it too close to call. But Manukau Mayor Len Brown is slightly ahead of Auckland City Mayor John Banks - 30% to 28%. Third placed Colin Craig is on 2%.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post leads with the sister of the dead boy whose identity Mr Garrett stole speaking of the family's distress.
A man arranged for a device to be planted in his former wife's car that tracked her location and allowed him to shut down her engine remotely.
'Blanket Man' is back on the streets of Wellington. Ben Hana, who wears little more than a blanket, is on day leave from Wellington hospital's psychiatric ward.
The Press
The Press leads with bad damage to the Christchurch Arts Centre which faces several years of repairs at a cost of millions of dollars.
Three council housing tenants are defying efforts to evict them from their earthquake-damaged homes.
The final report on the Air New Zealand plane crash off France's Mediterranean coast is due to be issued by French authorities on Friday.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times leads with a rethink of a proposed massive power scheme on the lower Waitaki River, because of geological issues.
A woman is in Dunedin Hospital with a serious head wound after being attacked by man with a knife at her home. Police say the attack appears to be unprovoked.
And a heartbroken Dunedin student has issued a plea for the return of her $13,000 engagement ring. The ring was stolen from an office while she was working at a restaurant.
