LIQUOR: The Dominion leads today with a report that a historic vote to lower the drinking age from 20 to 18 turned to confusion in Parliament last night with a mix-up over proxy votes. The vote to reduce the drinking age had to be amended three times because of wrongly cast proxies.

LIQUOR: The front-page photo shows three women enjoying a beer at Zebos bar. The women had mixed feelings about the changes.

LIQUOR: Another report says alcohol, health and youth lobby groups are disappointed by Parliament's decision last night to lower the drinking age to 18.

Also on the front page:

- FLASH FLOOD: a report that at least two New Zealanders are believed dead and three injured after 18 people were swept to their deaths by a wall of water during a "canyoning" expedition in Switzerland yesterday.

- TEENAGER RAPED: a report that a 16-year-old Lower Hutt student waiting for a bus in Taita was allegedly kidnapped and raped on the Petone foreshore late on Tuesday night, police say;

- SCOTT WATSON TRIAL: a report that a man who offered alleged murder victim Olivia Hope a berth on his boat told her friend Ben Smart that he could not come, water taxi driver Guy Wallance told the High Court at Wellington yesterday.

Inside Political Headlines:

- TAMIHERE: Tamihere in for a golden handshake says Peters;
- HENARE: Henare's letter brings complaint;
- DAIRY: Dairy leadership challenge tests mega company;
- WINZ: Manager speaks up for Rankin - Winz took 'cheapest' setats for 18 staff to attend seminar
- LIQUOR: Tardy MPs caught out for conscience votes.

© 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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