PRESS DIGEST-New Zealand newspapers - April 1

WELLINGTON, April 1 (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)

Minister quits business interests: Internal Affairs Minister Richard Worth has resigned his other business interests as he comes under fire over a private trip to India.

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Fletcher's NY defence attacked: The US firm suing Fletcher Building (FBU.NZ) for US$21 million (NZ$36.9m) over the kiwi firm's Formica acquisition is asking the court to dismiss Fletcher's counterclaims and defence. - - - -

Contact retains $49m: Contact Energy (CEN.NZ) says its new dividend policy has resulted in it retaining about $49 million.

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Super port step closer: The proposed creation of an Auckland super city may make a merger between the two major ports more likely.

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Telecom cagey on Crown fibre-optic plan: Telecom (TEL.NZ) chief executive Paul Reynolds gave a circumspect response to the Government's proposal to invest up to $1.5 billion in a $3b fibre-optic broadband access network, saying the company would review the opportunities it created.

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

Here comes winter - and power price rises: Homeowners face increasing power costs as winter looms, despite Government calls for restraint in power company pricing.

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