Latest from Auckland Council

Disabled Kiwis left behind by quake plans

Large parts of the country's building stock will be off-limits for disabled people under a proposal to trim the cost of upgrading thousands of earthquake-prone buildings, advocacy groups have warned.

Marathon: Council's track ban mystery to runners

Runners say an Auckland City Council decision to prohibit the use of the Hillary Trail in West Auckland for an off-road running event is bizarre and makes no sense.

Are we ready for the big one?

As they did on the afternoon of March 17, tens of thousands of Aucklanders take to Facebook and Twitter to express their amazement that their seemingly quake-free city has had a rumble.

Working party to help Auckland housing

Auckland Council and the Government will create a working party to look at urgent issues relating to the city's housing crisis.

Govt plan could drive up housing costs

The Government will drive up Auckland's red hot housing market if it fails to ratify a new planning rulebook for the Super City, says a business lobby group.

Council sees no conflict in belonging to property body

Auckland Council has voted to stay in an organisation that calls itself the voice of commercial property - after rejecting pleas that citizens see a conflict of interest.

Smith appears to offer olive branch

Housing Minister Nick Smith appears to be taking a more conciliatory approach to Auckland's housing crisis as he prepares to meet Mayor Len Brown to discuss the issue today.

Familiar faces likely to linger on

There will be few new faces around the Auckland Council chamber after October's local body elections, with most councillors standing for re-election and little sign of strong contenders to oust the incumbents.

Eye-watering costs to get connected

A fee for tapping into the waterworks in parts of Auckland has gone up by 900 per cent in the past two years - from less than $850 to almost $8000.

Rural towns key to city's big growth

The towns of Pukekohe and Warkworth and communities served by the Northwestern Motorway are among rural areas earmarked to contribute to Auckland's population.

Green belt battle going to hearing

A battle over whether job growth should come at the expense of the South Auckland countryside will go to a hearing by Auckland Council-appointed planning commissioners next month or early May.

Many Auckland firms expect boost

Almost half of Auckland's small and medium-sized firms expect a lift in sales in the coming year, research suggests.

Wedding caps Brown's week

Letter: Len Brown to John Key

Letter - Penny Hulse to Nick Smith

Haven for hard partiers

In a bid to cut down unnecessary hospital admissions, five Auckland organisations have set up a temporary 'safe house' for out-of-control revellers.

Jonathan Milne: City fix challenge for chiefs, never mind tiffs in the ranks

Fixing Auckland's housing is too significant a challenge to the entire economy to let it get caught up in petty politicking.

Brian Rudman: Planning to move with the times

Aucklanders are now able to go online and discover how their own home and neighbourhoods are affected by the new masterplan, writes Brian Rudman.