PRESS DIGEST-New Zealand newspapers - April 9
WELLINGTON, April 9 (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)
'Resilience' on house prices hinders buyers: Dropping house values are slowing in some areas, while a shortage of for-sale signs is frustrating buyers. Quotable Value monthly statistics showed national property values had declined 9.3 per cent in the year to the end of March, a further drop from the 8.9 per cent reported in February.
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Trade deal still on table: A Trans-Pacific trade deal opening the door to freer trade with the United States is in the balance after top-level meetings in Washington.
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Five-year selloff for Pizza Huts: Restaurant Brands (RBD.NZ) is planning to gradually sell its Pizza Hut stores over the next five years after a renegotiation of its agreement with Pizza Hut's international master franchise holder, Yum Brands
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NEW ZEALAND HERALD (www.nzherald.co.nz)
Moves to sue key Blue Chip personnel: Blue Chip's liquidators are about to take court action against the key people involved in the failed business as the first step in recovering NZ$80 million owed to investors.
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Survey shows most people believe recovery two years away: More than a quarter of New Zealanders expect the economy to be growing again within the next year and nearly two-thirds expect growth within two, a survey shows.
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ING breaks fixed rate: Homeowners are not the only ones paying big fees to get out of deals that fixed high interest rates. ING Property Trust said yesterday that it had got out of interest rate swap agreements which fixed its interest rate at 7.26 per cent for 5.7 years because interest rates had fallen.
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NZ Refining (NZR.NZ) well oiled: New Zealand Refining Company says its Marsden Pt oil refinery is running at full production after a planned maintenance shutdown in February.
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Tanker reaches stranded yachties: Efforts are under way to rescue two Italian sailors stranded on their crippled yacht in the Pacific Ocean, midway between New Zealand and Chile.
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