The big story of the morning is the miserable poll result for Labour (see today’s liveblog), and it’s on the front page of the Dominion Post, which leads with Nats heading for historic outright win . To recap: National are on 52.5%, the Greens have jumped to 12.6%, and Labour have fallen to 25.9%

Paloma Migone examines the Greens‘ surge in the polls and Tracy Watkins wonders if this means it is time for Labour to panic.

John Hartevelt says this means well regarded Labour MPs will have to pull off unlikely wins in their electorates if they are to stay in parliament. “Carol Beaumont, Kelvin Davis, Carmel Sepuloni and Stuart Nash are the highest-profile MPs in trouble” he tells us.

It’s the final vote for the Wellywood/Eye of the Taniwha/Blown away.

Andrea Vance outlines the opposition to National’s law and order policy. “It’s a sobering thought that the people most affected by swaggering law and order election pledges will have no say on them,” she writes.

The Green coverage continues with Gareth Hughes and Wellington Band Phoenix Foundation launching the Hey Kiwi website at Whitireia Polytechnic.

The Dom Post editorial warns Labour over it’s “desperate” Working for Families policy.  “Labour is probably hoping its new policy will shore up core parts of its support, support that today’s Fairfax Media poll suggests the party is leaking to the Greens. However, it is in danger of antagonising other potential supporters who object to any suggestion that the sacrifices they make to feed, clothe and house themselves and their families are not valued.”

On the New Zealand Herald front page is the revelation that the man accused of murdering an Auckland schoolgirl on Monday was out on bail after allegedly kidnapping her in September.

Underneath it is not great news for National as statistics NZ data reveals average net loss of people to Australia has hit almost 25,000 a year under this government – higher than any previous government and almost half of those who left last year were in their twenties and thirties.

The Mood of the Nation series continues with the moody youth. They (18-24 year olds) back Labour 46% to National‘s 29%. The series today also focuses on the Greens‘ support: a whopping 17% of people in their 30s are leaning towards them. However “I wouldn’t want them running the country” and “I’m not sure they’d be good for running the country” show us that some of those giving the Greens support are hesitant.

Next up – vital statistics and National’s point by point response last night to Phil Goff’s top 10 yesterday.

Underneath John Armstrong talks about the difficult battle Labour faces to dent Key’s credibility and change voter perception that the Government has handled the economic crisis ably. It is “..the equivalent of chipping away at a block of granite.” he says

John Key was at the races and, by Claire Trevett’s account, the women were loving him. “We didn’t have this problem with Don Brash,” observed Minister of Racing Craig Foss.

Meanwhile Phil Goff was at the mall in Maungakiekie.

The paper’s editorial commends the Greens for bringing the need for change on KiwiSaver into the public arena and points out “Their approach is as sensible as it is timely”

Brian Rudman asks why National is polling so well despite the huge opposition to asset sales, he warns the opposition they only have three weeks to convince voters that when John Key “isn’t rescuing them on desert islands, he’s actually plotting the sale of state owned assets”

Former Labour party staffer John Pagani writes that Phil Goff has his work cut out this campaign with most people happy with the way things are. “People want more of the same so the Government is popular.” Goff has to “make the case for change before he can even get around to making the case for the kind of change he would represent.”

We get a peak at another tight seat. This time it is Te Atatu and self-described “West Side Tory” Tau Henare fancies his chances.

In Business Fran O’Sullivan thinks the Government’s Future Investment Fund plan for the money from the asset sales for is short sighted, she says they should follow Singapore’s lead and put it into a Government owned investment company. She points out a well run holdings company “could have booked profits by selling down Air NZ shares when they were at their peak in the Cullen era and bought more back when they subsequently slid.”

Finally Grant Bradley asks how will “mum and dad investors” lead the line when the SOEs come up for partial sale.

The Chistchurch Press covers the latest poll results and the all-Canterbury affair in the New Zealand Cup yesterday.

The suburbs of Halswell and Aidanfield will benefit first from the new ultra-fast broadband network which began construction yesterday.

And Michael Wright covers the visit and announcement from John Key yesterday at rugby league park in Addington where a $20 revamp will see the Crusdaders playing their rugby in a new stadium there next season.

The Waikato Times front page has a picture of the careful work being done by geotechnical specialists at Cathedral Cove.

In the Otago Daily Times Dene Mackenzie says the Greens are setting the election agenda with their minimum wage and KiwiSaver initiatives mirrored by the major parties.

The paper has a report on the scale of the exodus to Australia.

Retiring Dunedin North MP Pete Hodgson reckons the polling gap will narrow.

And the editorial ponders upon the communication breakdown between the Dunedin City Council and senior police over the Occupy protest at the Octagon.