17 Feb 2012

Morning Report: local papers

11:01 am on 17 February 2012

Friday's headlines: Otago Rugby Union cannot pay its creditors; monopoly for Air New Zealand soon on direct flights between Auckland - LA; Student Volunteer Army founder Sam Johnson named Young New Zealander of the Year.

NZ Herald

The New Zealand Herald reports a policewoman suspended from duty, has been charged in relation to the theft of a car and the impersonation of an officer.

The paper says it's understood Karis Charnley, 39, was not physically involved in stealing the car but supplied her police uniform to those who were.

Two leading travel agencies are tipping Air New Zealand will soon have the monopoly on direct flights between Auckland - Los Angeles, giving it the opportunity to increase fares.

Waikato Times

The Waikato Times leads with the lifting of name suppression for a man charged for his part in a fatal motor accident. David Mascelle, 47, faces a charge of careless driving causing death after William Hoskins, 26, died after being run over on State Highway 1B at Matangi early on 15 January.

The paper also reports former Hamilton City Council chief executive turned Christchurch City Council chief executive Tony Marryatt is offside again with ratepayers, after leaving a council meeting early to play a round of golf.

Dominion Post

The Dominion Post reports that major routes in and out of Wellington could be blocked by rubble from more than 400 buildings with unstable masonry in the event of a big earthquake.

A new council report into Wellington's resilience has found the city's economy would take a $37 billion hit if it experienced an event like the Christchurch earthquake.

And Oscar winner Richard Taylor has been another accolade. Sir Richard was named New Zealander of the Year on Thursday night at an awards dinner in Auckland.

The Press

The Press reports on the same event with a large picture of Student Volunteer Army founder Sam Johnson, who has been named Young New Zealander of the Year.

And a second container shopping precinct in central Christchurch will depend on cordons and the demolition of buildings. The retail space, similar to City Mall's Restart, is being planned for Colombo Street near High Street.

ODT

The Otago Daily Times leads with the precarious financial position of the Otago Rugby Football Union.

The paper reports the union is set to post a loss of "several hundred thousand dollars" and admits it cannot pay creditors.

The paper also reports small schools in urban areas such as Dunedin are likely to come under increasing scrutiny during the next three years, as the Ministry of Education tries to operate in a "constrained fiscal environment".