The trial of three men associated with the collapsed firm Dominion Finance was adjourned just after lunch yesterday for reasons the Herald is prohibited from reporting.

Auckland's critical housing shortage worsened again last year - but the gap between population growth and house-building may be closing at last.

An out-of-pocket Mainzeal Property and Construction subcontractor estimates the builder could record $50 million to $100 million of losses.

John Key approved the Construction Minster's directorship of a company involved with Mainzeal but says any concerns about possible conflicts of interest are a "beat-up".

The first cardboard cladding tubes, each weighing 120kg, were installed to shape the $5.3 million A-frame building.

Waikato town planners are bracing for an overflow of Aucklanders from the Super City as it seeks to find living space for its booming population.

Mainzeal employees reacted with shock and anger to the news that around 200 staff had been made redundant in an effort to reduce costs.

A recent pick-up in Australian housing loan approvals has gone into reverse, suggesting a series of interest rate cuts is taking its time in percolating through the economy.

An Auckland construction boss has warned about the building resurgence, saying now can be the most perilous time for businesses.

A proposed three-storey retail and apartment building on Ponsonby Rd is sparking debate about the merits of modern architecture along the famous character strip.

The collapse of Mainzeal has people worrying about who will construct the residential and commercial buildings required for Christchurch, writes Liam Dann.

Plans to sling a walking and bike path under the Auckland Harbour Bridge have become a preferred choice of the Transport Agency, provided it is paid for by tolls.

Imperilled are the jobs of hundreds of employees, and the financial future of numerous subcontractors, writes Brian Rudman. The latter are now at risk of being bankrupted for no fault of their own.

The screech and hammer of tools returned to a Mainzeal construction site yesterday - but only as subcontractors were finally allowed to remove their equipment.

A mainzeal contractor has been issued with a trespass order after trying to remove $1 million worth of equipment from an apartment building yesterday morning.

New Zealand's commercial construction sector has been nailed into the ground by the recession, industry chiefs say, and Mainzeal Property and Construction's receivership came after a string of others.

Angry subcontractors are trying to retrieve their tools locked in a Wellington Mainzeal construction site after the company went into receivership.

Work has stopped on a number of Mainzeal developments around Auckland today after the construction firm was placed into receivership yesterday.

Fallout from the Mainzeal receivership is hitting listed lines company, Horizon Energy.

Mainzeal Property and Construction - one of New Zealand's largest construction companies - has gone into receivership.

The Greens, not always practical in these policy areas, have come up with a solution that addresses the problem, writes Charles Waldegrave.

Consents for 127 retirement village units is one feature of strong building consents data for December.

The entrance of a European building products giant into the Christchurch rebuild market will increase competition in the industry.