Friday's papers: rate cut by Reserve Bank unlikely before 23 October; more midwives to be trained; Transmission Gully by-pass support may be pulled; crutches missing at Otago DHB.
NZ Herald
The main focus in The New Zealand Herald is on signals from the governor of the Reserve Bank that an early rate cut is unlikely before the next scheduled announcement on 23 October. Economists are picking a cut of between three quarters of a percentage point to a full point.
Unions fear National's KiwiSaver policy will allow employers to reduce wages.
A driver pulled to safety while his truck threatened to plunge into a river is recommending a bravery award for teenage rescuer.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post says National's tax policy will disadvantage low income earners because of cuts to KiwiSaver. Party leader John Key has fended-off criticism of his deputy, Bill English over secretly recorded 'do what it takes to win' remarks made at the party's conference.
Wellington City Council threatens to pull its support for the Transmission Gully by-pass in response to plans by Porirua City Council to site a retail centre near the new highway. Wellington fears the project would "starve" shopping areas in the rest of the region.
The Press
The Press also predicts of a rate cut of three quarters of a percentage point, but notes this is unlikely to happen before 23 October.
Eighty new midwives are to be trained every year to help meet a growing shortage and reduce reliance on overseas-trained personnel.
The level of contamination at sawmill sites around the country is reportedly much higher than earlier studies had suggested. Of the 255 sites checked, 100 are no longer sawmills and are zoned for residential, commercial or industrial use.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times looks at how the Government went from running a surplus of $2 billion four months ago to projecting a deficit of $6 billion over the coming year.
The Otago District Health Board wants to know where all of its crutches are going: only half of those issued to patients are being returned at a cost of $1500 per month.
And there's been a muted response in Otago towns to news that Top Town is returning to tv screens. Waitaki district is the only area interested in taking part so far.