PRESS DIGEST-New Zealand newspapers - Oct 2

WELLINGTON, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Following are some of the leadstories from New Zealand metropolitan newspapers on Tuesday.

Stories may be taken from either the paper or Interneteditions of the papers.

Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouchfor their accuracy.

DOMINION POST()

Link with witchcraft closes therapy clinic: A naturaltherapy clinic at Whanganui Hospital offering massage andtraditional Maori healing has been shelved after a doctor linkedit to witchcraft and wizardry.

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Spy review 'damage control' - Shearer: The man tasked withco-ordinating intelligence agencies attended a meeting at whichpolice told the Government's spies that surveillance of KimDotcom may have been illegal.

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PM defends Hollywood studio tour: Prime Minister John Keyinsists his schmoozing trip to Hollywood is about jobs for NewZealanders. He said did not expect to discuss Kim Dotcom, oroffer further labour law changes in return for movies being madein this country.

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Tower premiums to rocket: Tower is raising its homeand contents insurance premiums by about 30 per cent on averageacross the country but it will be up by more than 50 per cent inparts of Christchurch.

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Forestry planting falls to near zero: The low price ofcarbon credits is a factor but probably not the root cause ofnew forestry plantations dropping off to near zero over the pastfew years, according to a leading economist.

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Tamihere eyes Labour comeback: John Tamihere is understoodto be eyeing a return to Parliament in 2014 - almost a decadeafter his former leader Helen Clark said he faced "a very longroute to redemption" for an outburst in which he called females"front bums" and was dismissive of the Holocaust.

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Police won't say what top Dotcom cop knew: Police arerefusing to say whether one of the country's most seniorofficers knew about illegal spying on Kim Dotcom, even though hewas an integral figure in the months leading up to thehigh-profile raid.

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Christian faiths losing out to other religions:In the battle for believers, Christianity is losing out toreligions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam.

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Big thirst for Moa float: Moa's proposed stock exchangelisting is highly likely to go ahead this month and should bewell received by investors, given the craft beer brewer's starbacking by 42 Below founder Geoff Ross, market sources say.

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Wheedle given little chance of denting Trade Me's supremacy:Trade Me rival Wheedle launched yesterday but businesscommentators doubt it will present much of a challenge.

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((Wellington newsroom tel [phone], fax [phone]))

Keywords: NEWZEALAND PRESS