PRESS DIGEST-New Zealand newspapers - Oct 8

WELLINGTON Oct 8 (Reuters) - Following are some of the lead stories from New Zealand metropolitan newspapers on Thursday.

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)

Mystery woman hunt: Border officials have been put on alert as fears grow that missing Auckland two-year-old Aisling Symes has been snatched.

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More snow on the way: More wild weather is set to wreak havoc as a cold front descends on the North Island, and as linesmen struggle to restore power.

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Merger and takeover deals fall off Takeover and merger activity is continuing to flag in New Zealand.

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Air NZ's bold marketing strategy: Forget the 30-second television advertisement, the internet is where it's at for big-brand marketing, Air New Zealand's AIR.NZ head of marketing, Steve Bayliss, says.

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Kiwisave "a saving grace": KiwiSaver continues to dominate New Zealand's "ma and pa" investment scene, with fund managers sharing a tidy net NZ$449 million during the three months to June end.

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NEW ZEALAND HERALD (www.nzherald.co.nz)

Kidnap fears as search for toddler suspended: Police searching for toddler Aisling Symes are now looking at any reports of suspicious behaviour in the past few weeks in the area where she disappeared.

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Bus-driver lockout will leave 80,000 stranded: Auckland bus services will be suspended from today following a notice of industrial action from drivers.

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Makeover for jewellery stores: Listed jewellery retailer Michael Hill International MHI.NZ unveils its new shop format today with a champagne function at its flagship Queen St store.

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The godfather of punk seeks new Passenger: Iggy Pop is the latest in a string of famous faces to front for a telecommunications company.

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