Len Brown depicted as Incredible Shrinking Mayor; husband killer Helen Milner had a history of dishonesty and family feuds; Christchurch rebuild costs could be higher than forecast.
NZ Herald
The New Zealand Herald has a cartoon of a tiny Len Brown with the headline, The Incredible Shrinking Mayor. The front page is a nod to a famous TIME Magazine cover from 1993 which lampooned President Bill Clinton.
The paper goes on to list the main decisions on Thursday including the censure and decision to ask the mayor to contribute to the council's costs over its inquiry.
The front page also has a picture of convicted killer Helen Milner, with the headline, 'My Mum the Black Widow'.
Waikato Times
The Waikato Times leads with the headline, 'Black Widow is evil'. It reports that Helen Milner had a history of dishonesty and family feuds. The paper reveals Milner, who was found guilty of her husband's murder and attempted murder on Thursday, was previously cut out of her mother's will and disowned by her family.
In other news, the paper reports the first few weeks of summer in Waikato have been marred by domestic-violence incidents.
Dominion Post
The Dominion Post leads with Helen Milner's conviction for killing her husband and reports that during the murder trial, she was already in prison for framing her son. The paper says documents show Milner was a troublesome teenager suspected of stealing from her schoolmates and family.
The paper goes on to say Milner's son is now taking her to court for framing him.
The Press
The Press also reports on the trial and conviction of Helen Milner. In documents released on Thursday it emerged that Milner had troubled relationships with her family. One letter from her mother reveals that she thought Milner was evil and had no desire to have her back in her life.
In other news: the paper reports the initial findings of an independent audit into Christchurch City Council's finances have confirmed some of the new mayor's ''worst fears''. The interim findings identified insurance as a big risk and warned the costs of the rebuild could be higher than forecast.
ODT
The Otago Daily Times leads with the case of a young Auckland man who had sex with a 14 year-old Dunedin girl he met on a online dating site. At the sentencing of the man, 22, the judge said the case highlighted the dangers of teenagers communicating through the internet.
And the paper has a picture of Freda McMillan who celebrated her birthday with 106 cupcakes, one for every year.
