Wednesday's headlines: Slump in support for Labour in latest political opinion poll; flu vaccinations urged by Employers Association in Waikato; man fined $1100 for being intoxicated and for using his cellphone on a flight to Dunedin on Monday night.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald leads with a slump in support for Labour in the paper's latest political opinion poll. It says Labour is down 5.5 percentage points to 30.9% support, with David Shearer down 6 points as preferred prime minister to 12.4%.
The paper says support for National has barely moved and sits at 48.8%, with John Key up almost 3 percentage points as the preferred Prime Minister.
Auckland motorists have paid more than $37 million in council fines over the past year. The money has been collected from various sources, including bus lane infringements and parking penalties.
Waikato Times
'GPs brace for flu onslaught' is the headline in The Waikato Times. Medical centre staff have told the paper there's been an upsurge in patients suffering from the common cold, but the full-blown flu is it yet to make its presence felt.
And the head of the Waikato Employers and Manufacturers Association has told the paper, bosses in the region should make sure their staff get free flu vaccinations.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post says the number of children dropping out of school before the age of 16 is at an all time low. That's despite an international report warning New Zealand's overall school dropout rate is one of the highest in the developed world.
The paper says a new study has found NZ workers are happier, and have a better work-life balance than their counterparts in many other countries.
The Press
The Press has an impressive picture of sheep trapped by snowdrifts near Rangitata Gorge in mid Canterbury. The paper says farmers are carrying locator beacons because of the avalanche risk, as they race to save stock stuck in recent heavy snow.
Peter Dunne's Parliamentary funding has taken a $100,000 hit after the United Future party was deregistered.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times reports that the company bidding to build a waterfront hotel in Dunedin is taking its fight to the Environment Court. Betterways Advisory director Dave Rodgers believes the Dunedin City Council's decision to decline the application was wrong.
And the paper says a Dunedin man was fined $1100 for being intoxicated and for using his cellphone on a flight to Dunedin on Monday night.