PRESS DIGEST-New Zealand newspapers - June 18

WELLINGTON, June 18 (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)

Swine flu hits prison unit: An entire unit at Rimutaka Prison has been put in quarantine after an outbreak of swine flu.

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Swine flu spreading 'everywhere': Swine flu is now widespread in Canterbury, with the first two confirmed cases with no links to international travel.

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MPs dither over an inquiry on banks: The Reserve Bank has fired another broadside at banks for refusing to drop mortgage rates but National MPs are dithering over whether to start a formal inquiry into banks' interest rates.

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Superannuation fund rises above break even: The New Zealand Superannuation Fund made a profit 3.47 per cent, or NZ$587 million in May, the same month the Government turned off the tap of contributions for the next decade.

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Less costly to buy carbon units - report: It would be cheaper for New Zealand to meet its Kyoto Protocol commitments by buying carbon units overseas than cutting emissions, a new report has found.

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

Don't repatriate Filipino workers, pleads consul: Philippine consul-general Emilie Shi has called on the New Zealand Government to "have some compassion and human consideration" as thousands of Filipino workers plan to outstay their work permits.