Paid parking on weekends looks set to stay, as Wellington Mayor Andy Foster struggles to find support for his agenda around the council table; and Grace Millane’s mother is expected to today confront her daughter’s killer in court after suffering in silence through every day of the trial.
* The New Zealand Herald
In the New Zealand Herald, Grace Millane’s mother is expected to today confront her daughter’s killer in court after suffering in silence through every day of the trial. A now 28-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty and convicted of the British backpacker’s murder last November. Today, from 9am, he will be sentenced by Justice Simon Moore in the High Court at Auckland.
In other news, recent polls on legalising recreational cannabis show support falling for the ‘yes’ vote, but also a significant number of undecideds who could ultimately swing the September 19 vote. The ‘yes’ and ‘no’ campaigns are pulling together funding and strategies to reach voters including the roughly 10 percent of undecided voters in what is expected to be an intense and potentially ugly campaign.
In business news, a tenant who had to clean up the mess of nesting rats in her rental property and couldn’t use her unsafe, rotten deck, has been awarded $12,000. Janine Reichert had moved into a beachfront Karaka Bay property in January 2018. But, as the Tenancy Tribunal heard, she noticed rats were coming into her house and nesting, with mice and ants invading other areas of the rental.
* The Dominion Post
In the Dominion Post, paid parking on weekends looks set to stay, as Wellington Mayor Andy Foster struggles to find support for his agenda around the council table. Foster campaigned on restoring free central city parking on Sundays, and included it in his ‘‘first 150 days’’ plan. But, as the council seeks public engagement on a review of parking policies, Foster admitted he didn’t have the votes to pass free Sunday parking.
In other news, Wellington Water looks set to be subjected to an official inquiry over problems with the city’s wastewater network.The development comes after 12 of Wellington City’s 15 councillors including Mayor Andy Foster put their names to a motion requesting a wide ranging inquiry into Wellington Water’s operations and its relationship with the council.
In business news, members of Generate KiwiSaver who had their data stolen by hackers are considering their legal options. The scheme revealed last week that, earlier in the year, personal data about 26,000 members was accessed by third parties.
* The Press
In The Press, nine years after the earthquake killed her sister and destroyed her historic workspace, Karen Selway is still battling. Fighting for accountability over her sister’s death alongside 114 others. Fighting with the Crown over the still vacant plot where her building once stood.
In other news, aspirational tourist attraction the Eden Project has been given access to 46 hectares of Christchurch’s red zone for two years. The licence to occupy which lets those behind the project carry out site investigations, hold events and place temporary structures on the Avonside land means detailed design and financial work can now be done.
In business news, four companies associated with a Christchurch Indian restaurant owner facing worker exploitation charges have been threatened with liquidation. Stuff earlier revealed Amar Deep Singh, the owner of Corianders Ethnic Indian Restaurants, had his company assets frozen as he faces the charges.
