PRESS DIGEST-New Zealand newspapers - March 13

WELLINGTON, March 13 (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( Href="Link">www.stuff.co.nz)

Wellington 'left behind' says Auckland: The Wellington region is being warned it will be left behind unless it follows Auckland and becomes a super-city.

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Political' state servant under fire: State servants are facing increasing political scrutiny as some push for a seat in Parliament while hanging on to their day jobs.

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Speedy economic growth predicted: The economy will grow 4.5 per cent this year, the fastest pace in a decade, but the Reserve Bank will lift official interest rates to 5.25 per cent by early 2016, according to Infometrics forecasts.

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Rivals oppose IAG bid for Lumley: New Zealand's largest insurer, IAG IAG.AX , faces strong opposition to its proposed purchase of third-biggest player Lumley, with critics saying choice and competition will shrink noticeably for consumers.

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NEW ZEALAND HERALD ( Href="Link">www.nzherald.co.nz)

Citizenship, then $22k for Nats: A wealthy Auckland businessman was given New Zealand citizenship against official advice after a Government minister lobbied the colleague who made the decision.

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Two strikes and Collins will be out: Justice Minister Judith Collins has been put on notice by Prime Minister John Key that another blunder, on top of her admission yesterday she failed to disclose key details of a trip to China, could end her career.

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M&A market in purple patch: expert: New Zealand's merger and acquisition market is the most buoyant it has been since 2007 and more deals are likely, according to KPMG.

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Bonus plan among details of Genesis float out today: The Government will release full details of the Genesis Energy

GEPWR.UL float today including the price range for the shares, a bonus share scheme and the timetable for its sharemarket listing.

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((Wellington newsroom tel +64 4 802 7980, fax +64 4 473 6212 wellington.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com))

Keywords: NEWZEALAND PRESS