Latest from Auckland Council

Busway extension left out of $815m plan

Auckland's successful Northern Busway has been set back by a Government decision to exclude an extension to Albany from an $815 million package.

How budget hit crunch point

Auckland Mayor Len Brown hailed his first 10-year budget in 2012 as the foundation block to transform Auckland once and for all.

Paul Little: Waffle, woe in Brown's city plan

Finances for the plan to create the world's most 'liveable' city are so parlous, it appears, that to fund what Auckland needs Brown may need to break a promise, writes Paul Little.

John Roughan: Auckland should not lose services

Aucklanders are told something has to go if the mayor is to keep rates from rising beyond his election promise. Aucklanders should not listen to this, writes John Roughan.

Len Brown: Let's design our future together

Over the next 11 months, the Auckland Council, in consultation with Aucklanders, will develop the next 10-year budget 2015-2025, otherwise known as the Long-term Plan.

Historic homes at risk in plan

Housing New Zealand wants to lift building restrictions around hundreds of its historic and "special character" homes across Auckland to allow for development.

Geoff Cooper: Radical planning shift needed for Auckland to prosper

A simple Unitary Plan of self-determination is appealing, but land use choices are riddled with unintended consequences, writes Geoff Cooper.

Bernard Orsman: Hey big spender, you're in a deep financial hole

The chickens have come home to roost for the Len Brown-led Auckland Council after four years of big spending and debt-fuelled budgets.

Len Brown's black budget

Cutting back funding for park maintenance, reducing library hours and scrapping inorganic rubbish collections are among options being considered by Auckland Council.

Shuttle saw few takers this week

A controversial shuttle service for Auckland Transport staff was little used this week.

Passport plan for arts and culture events

Aucklanders could be issued with an arts passport that includes reduced travel costs to arts and cultures events in the city.

Editorial: Don't diss AT shuttle - it's an idea that could travel

The Auckland Council and its transport agency are inviting ridicule with a trial of shuttle buses for their staff.

$356,000 for train campaign

Public transport bosses in Auckland spent $356,000 to improve their public image - even as they lined up a special shuttle so staff don't have to travel on buses and trains.

Peter Bromhead: Life after death

Plan to keep square public defeated

Strong measures to consider keeping a central Auckland square in public ownership before it could be privatised have been soundly defeated by the Auckland Council.

Sentenced for $155k sports club theft

QE Square option kept from council, says official

The privatisation of Queen Elizabeth Square in downtown Auckland has allegedly been pushed through a council committee without councillors being told of an option to retain the $60 million public open space.

$40k neighbours' renovation row

'It was goodbye to views and gardens and hello to block walls, cheap roofing materials...' Three residents have spent $40k fighting a neighbour's house extensions.