WELLINGTON, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Following are some of the lead stories from
New Zealand metropolitan newspapers on Wednesday.
Stories may be taken from either the paper or Internet editions of the
papers.
Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their
accuracy.
DOMINION POST(www.stuff.co.nz)
Fiji showdown: New Zealand and Fiji were today preparing to bring home
their senior diplomats after last night\'s showdown threw the relationship
between the two countries into crisis.
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Finance company execs charged: Criminal charges carrying a maximum
five-year jail term have been laid against Bridgecorp chairman Bruce Davidson
and two non-executive directors as the Securities Commission intensifies its
investigation into the failed finance company.
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Call to test pay rules for MPs, judges: The head of the agency that sets
MPs\' and judges\' pay says it is time to review the rules, including the criteria
it uses to determine pay rises.
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TrustPower swoops again: Electricity company TrustPower has unplugged a
further 7283 customers from rival companies in the past 10 weeks, grabbing
thousands of Contact Energy customers.
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NEW ZEALAND HERALD (www.nzherald.co.nz)
Criminal charges for 9 finance firm chiefs: Nine directors of failed
finance companies Bridgecorp and Nathans Finance face having to pay NZ$500,000
each in compensation to investors if new court action is successful.
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NZ halfway through downturn, say economists: The recession deepened in
the three months to September, as demand evaporated in every major sector of the
economy except the Government, and economists predict worse to come.
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Passenger numbers down at Auckland Airport: Passenger numbers fell at
Auckland International Airport last month, as the global economic crisis hit
both international and domestic travel.
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Keywords: NEWZEALAND PRESS
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