Bernard Orsman is the New Zealand Herald's Auckland and Super City reporter.
Bernard Orsman has been covering local government issues in Auckland since 1998. He covered the Auckland City Council beat through the Christine Fletcher, John Banks and Dick Hubbard terms before turning his attention to the creation of the Super City. Bernard was previously based in the Press Gallery at Parliament for nearly six years. He joined the Herald in 1990 after a stint on New Zealand News UK in London. Bernard studied politics and mathematics at Victoria University before graduating from Wellington Polytechnic School of Journalism. You can contact Bernard at bernard.orsman@nzme.co.nz.
Auckland Council wants Govt to fund Eastern Busway after regional fuel tax axed
The loss of the tax leaves a $1.2b hole in transport funding.
Explained: Mayor's $3-4b war chest to secure council's financial future, disaster response
It's not sensible to have all your eggs in two baskets, the council treasurer says.
Auckland’s worst choke points revealed: Extra buses put on as March Madness bites
Public transport is meant to be better for the city, but it sucks, says one commuter.
ASB bank warns Pasifika community of scams at upcoming Polyfest
Scammers set up false Facebook pages linked to Collins' funeral.
Paula Bennett confirms she is eyeing up Auckland mayoralty
Wayne Brown: Local government shouldn't be a dumping ground for failed politicians.
Crackdown: $5k fine for wearing gang patch in public under new law
Paul Goldsmith and Mark Mitchell make announcement.
Developer still to pay $3m to Auckland Council after buying landmark skyscraper
The $3m deal was the fire sale of the century, says councillor John Watson.
Average Auckland household facing $613 increase to rates and water bills this year
Rates could rise by 7.5 per cent and water bills 25.8 per cent.
AT building 28 pedestrian crossings on a single project
Mayor Wayne Brown says AT has "lost the plot" on crossing costs.
'No food safety issues': Restaurateurs hit back over Auckland Council hygiene ratings
Customers can come into the kitchen and be the judge, says one restaurateur.
Mayor Brown disturbed by AT's failure to rebuild Meola Rd - AT boss dodges questions
Dean Kimpton refused to answer queries over the failure, insisting on written questions.
Football boss blasts AT over extending major road closure
Extended shutdown of road also set to impact Auckland's Big Gay Out this month.
Residents fume as major Auckland road closure extended
AT assured residents the road would be open no later than the day after Waitangi Day.
‘Living nightmare’: Neighbour on AT's pedestrian crossing debacle
My house and driveway have suffered cracks from heavy vehicles, says Nina Kristensen.
‘Temporary cash deficit’: Auckland Council set to approve $130 million bailout of Watercare
Auckland floods and Ōrākei sewer collapse among reasons for the deficit.
AT spends $600k installing pedestrian crossing - and then ripping it up
AT boss Dean Kimpton admits "we are very aware of concerns" about high costs.
NZ has become more divided over Treaty of Waitangi - Seymour
Seymour compared his Treaty bill to women getting the vote and ending apartheid.
AT says 'excessive noise' to blame for new pedestrian crossing being ripped up
'Somebody needs to take responsibility and be fired,' says one Three Kings resident.
'They make them. We break them': Crossing designed to last 40yrs ripped up after just one
Apart from the cost of putting it in, what's it costing to remove, says a local.
Wayne Brown says AT has lost the plot over pedestrian crossing costs
AT is spending $490,000 turning a crossing into a crossing, says Mayor.
Pedestrian crossings are cheap to build in Wellington, why do they cost a fortune in Auckland?
"That is not gold plated" - AT boss Dean Kimpton defends $490,000 pedestrian crossing.
Grieving father describes ‘horrific’ pain of losing only daughter in bus station tragedy
The woman was seen arguing with a man then running for a bus when the accident occurred.
Former transport minister slates Nats for scrapping Auckland light rail
Michael Wood says the new Government is running a double standard.
Exclusive: Bold plan for 55,000-seat stadium on Auckland waterfront
The benefits far outweigh the costs over 50 years, says Richard Dellabarca.
Auckland’s long-running stadium debate has a new game plan
There's a glimmer of hope to resolve the stadium merry-go-round.
'Freed from distress and financial pressure': Cyclone-hit homeowner one of first bought out
Auckland Council is working on more than 2200 damage assessments.
AT's plans to spend up to $300,000 on pedestrian crossing in Blockhouse Bay
Wayne Brown and Simeon Brown are on the war path over costs.
Watch: Brawl outside Auckland pub leaves one person with critical injuries
These fights will keep happening without more police on the beat, says CBD resident.
Auckland rail network to close down from Boxing Day and reopen from mid-January
Bus services will replace the trains during the rail closures.
Two Auckland subcontractors involved in NZ's first criminal prosecution for cartel conduct
The defendants will appear in court on January 25.
Fixing Auckland Parnell sinkhole sets up extra $60m in repairs to century-old sewer pipe
The Ōrākei Main Sewer is to be relined.
Auckland Fish Market could be sold and turned into waterfront apartments
The Fish Market started in 1904 selling fresh fish and seafood.
Overflow: Auckland’s Central Interceptor wastewater costs blow out to $1.5b
For many years, Watercare has stuck to a figure of $1.2b for the project.
$1.2 billion Central Interceptor wastewater pipe faces cost blowout
The new cost is expected to be released tomorrow.
NZ Transport Agency dumps Māori name first for English name
It’s now NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi after NZ First campaign to strip te reo names.
Auckland councillors approve new 10-year budget for public consultation
The budget includes $5.5b for road renewals over the next decade.
Mayor Brown tells bickering councillors to 'grow up' in fiery budget meeting
Mike Lee and Shane Henderson have a history of bad blood.
Wayne Brown tables 10-year budget proposal with 7.5 per cent rates rise
Selling a long-term lease for the Port of Auckland business is included in the budget.
Auckland's new $56b harbour crossing heading for the rocks
Nine plans for a new harbour crossing have come and gone since 1998.
City Rail Link set to cost Auckland ratepayers $220m a year to operate from 2026
Interest is the biggest cost at $160m a year.
Simeon Brown can't say when Auckland regional fuel tax will be scrapped
In Opposition, Brown said the tax should be scrapped to help struggling Kiwis.
Auckland Council looking to move from weekly to fortnightly rubbish collections
The switch to fortnightly collections is linked to reducing household rubbish.
Auckland Council finance boss resigns
Peter Gudsell follows Wayne Brown's top communications adviser in quitting the council.
Auckland mayor's plan to replace North Harbour Stadium with smaller venue
A small stadium would be the kiss of death for North Harbour, says councillor John Watson.
Mayor wants to sell lease in Port of Auckland and invest proceeds into $4b fund
Wayne Brown is also proposing a rates increase of 7.5 per cent for households next year.
Auckland Council faces legal threat if it sells Downtown Car Park building
Developer Andrew Krukziener says deal being worked up for site is 'smoke and mirrors'.
Cheaper to build a house in Auckland than a $470k pedestrian crossing
Mayor Wayne Brown says the costs are unjustifiable.
Congestion charging: All you need to know, including what's in the latest plans
Mayor Wayne Brown has floated a $5 charge on busy motorways to beat congestion.
Auckland congestion charges given green light
Lack of public transport is a penalty and a blunt penalty, said Cr Wayne Walker.
Wayne Brown reveals which motorists could avoid paying $5 motorway congestion charge
Schoolchildren should have choices other than the motorway, says Wayne Brown.
Wayne Brown wants new Government to review earthquake strengthening rules for the city
Brown says there are rules for earthquakes but not volcanoes in Auckland.
Irish teenager arrested at Auckland Airport with nearly 2kg of meth
The meth had a street value of $670,000.
Auckland towers planned on site of Downtown carpark
Exclusive: Auckland councillors have still to approve the sale of the carpark building.
AT issues four apologies in turbulent week, the latest to Mayor Wayne Brown
The mayoral office was not impressed with the assumptions made by AT.
AT backs down and keeps car parks on K Rd after outrage from businesses and criticism from mayor
It's 'just arrogance' on the part of AT, says a senior council officer.
Wayne Brown takes AT to task over removal of K Rd car parks
Stop trashing AT's improving image, Brown told AT chief executive Dean Kimpton.
K Rd businesses fearful after AT proceeds with removing last remaining car parks
You take away our parking, you take away our customers, says one retailer.
Car parks removed on K Rd despite calls from Wayne Brown for a rethink
The new parking signs are already turning away customers, say worried businesses.
'S*** or potato'?' Tiny Auckland community's fears over new wastewater treatment plant
The plant threatens one of the last remaining scallop beds, says Jim Jackson
Neighbours at war over plans to demolish heritage Auckland bungalow
Owner says new house will still fit street's character but opponents strongly disagree
Tau Henare vows utu against Auckland councillors who voted ‘no’ to Māori seats
Councillor Maurice Williamson has called Henare’s comments “outrageous”.
Auckland’s oldest hotel facing demolition unless urgent repairs are done
The Fitzroy Hotel was built in 1855 and has links to James K Baxter.
Auckland Council votes no to Māori seats at 2025 local body elections
Change will not be made while same voices are heard around the table: Cr Angela Dalton.
$95 v $50: Price war sparked by new Waiheke Island ferry operator
Fullers' boss welcomes a second ferry operator on the Waiheke service.
'Overkill': AT plans four new pedestrian crossings on 900m stretch of North Shore road
“Is it really necessary to put in a crossing for 43 people?" asks dumbfounded resident.
Auckland speed trial: New point-to-point speed cameras being installed on six Auckland roads
A trial of the cameras found motorists driving over three times the speed limit.
Ousted Mt Roskill MP Michael Wood breaks his silence on losing safe Labour seat
Wood pledges to keep fighting for Labour over next three years.
Act on track to be in government and win two Auckland seats
Deputy leader Brooke van Velden defeating National’s Simon O’Connor in Tāmaki.
Auckland sinkhole: Independent review set to find out the cause
The review is expected to take several months and will be made public.
West Aucklanders next in line for KiwiRail's disruptive rail rebuild
Introducing more buses will not save any time, says one commuter.
Auckland Downtown Carpark sale likely to proceed without $28m bike and scooter hub
Losing downtown public parking is a disaster, says developer Andrew Krukziener.
Act promises ‘colourblind’ health system
There is no justification for ethnic-based healthcare, party says.
Wayne’s world: Simon Wilson and Bernard Orsman rate Mayor Brown’s first year
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown gets an annual ratecard from Bernard Orsman and Simon Wilson.
Wayne Brown wants National to tweak its water policy to avoid bills rising $50 a fortnight
Water bills could double over four years to $2720 under National, says Brown.
'I’m disgusted': Auckland Council manager accused of bullying reappointed to $300k job
The woman left the council after three bullying allegations were mostly upheld.
Auckland’s $870 million rail project to lure tens of thousands onto trains
The rail corridor will eventually be home to 130,000 people in South Auckland.
Financial horror show: Auckland Council pencils in sky-high rates and water bills
The gloomy outlook comes hard on the heels of rates and water bill rise this year.
More roads or more cycleways? We compare the parties' transport policies
The Greens wants to build light rail in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.