SMOKING: The Evening Post leads tonight with a report that teenage smoking has risen dramatically in the last decade according to two studies - including one of 500 Wellington Fourth Formers released this week.

MURAL The front-page photo shows a mural being painted on a toilet in Oriental Bay.

Also on the front page:

- WINZ SPENDING: a report that Top-level Work and Income Managers should be disciplined after $165,000 was spent to charter a jet for a staff conference, says Green Party MP Rod Donald;

- SEX AND TAX: a report that New Zealanders are spending up to $240 million a year paying for sex - and the taxman wants a piece of the action;

- GISBORNE HEALTH: a report that Gisborne Hospital expects to triple its workload during the millenium celebrations and wants up to $3.5 million from the HFA to cope;

Inside Political Headlines

- NATIONAL PARTY: Confusing Message Of Seesaw Change - just where is the National Party heading? Asks political editor Brent Edwards;

- MISCHIEF RATES BILL: Recoup of shoe store debt fades - Wellington ratepayers are unlikely to recoup $35,000 in rates owed by a company formerly associated with Mayor Mark Blumsky - Mischief Shoes;

- CREEP OF THE WEEK: Creep of the Week award issued to National MP Gerry Brownlee for not piping down during debate over Te Reo in the house;

- INCIS: "Doone takes rap for INCIS error;"

- NZ FIRST: "Peters sees return to glory days."

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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