Polls say Phil Goff will be Auckland mayor. So how do the other contenders keep going ?

A joint campaign has come under fire from their opponents claiming it puts their independence in question.

Losing a leg to cancer as an 11-year-old wasn't enough to put Katrina Bungard off from standing up for others. The Howick Local Board

Growing Whanganui's population is a key issue for this year's local body elections.

Wellingtonians need a mayor who can listen, fairly balance issues, and have a bit of a laugh.

After three days of counting in the postal ballot, 5.8 per cent of the city's 1,031,667 registered voters have voted.

Lianne Dalziel and John Minto went head to head in the first mayoral debate on CTV, but it became clear during the debate that they could be great pals.

A former city councillor during the Sir Hamish Hay era is making a bid to return to local politics. Gabrielle Stuart reports.

Homelessness, unemployment and infrastructure are key challenges facing one of the North Island's tourist hot spots, Rotorua.

Whether to accommodate out-of-towners or for residents struggling to find a house to put over their heads, the need for houses is strong in Taupo.

A local body candidate has been the victim of an apparent racist attack on one of her billboards.

Young people and migrants are the least interested sectors of the community in regards to local politics, according to a new survey.

Incumbent mayor Sheryl Mai says Whangarei's biggest challenge and strength is its growing population.

The exit of long-serving mayor Stuart Crosby has created a wide-open race for Tauranga's top job.

A Hamilton mayoral candidate has apologised for a mistake-ridden profile written in Te Reo Maori that was put together using Google Translate.

This strongly Pacific ward is is set to be a fascinating election battleground.

Your burning questions on the upcoming elections have been answered.

The sprawling Franklin ward has major infrastructure needs, say locals.

On the north side of the harbour bridge, road access is the core concern.

Residents in Orakei are adamant they are not "nimbys", but they are apprehensive about the impact more housing and more people will have on their patch.

COMMENT: Auckland Council has had an attack of the Mills & Boons and decided LOVE is the solution to its most pressing problem.

Median family income in the ward jumped 19.8 per cent from $58,600 in the 2006 Census to $70,200 in 2013.

Clean and green is a key message in the Waitakere ward, as the environment continues to feature highly among residents' concerns.

The biggest issue facing Hamilton in next three years is growth and the city needs a leader who can plan for it with the right amount of infrastructure.

A book, two bottles of wine and a $5 note were the star lots at a Chinese dinner for Labour MP Phil Goff's mayoral campaign.

Michelle Kennard was raring to vote in Taranaki elections - unfortunately she was sent information on Northland candidates.

Some of mayors are calling it quits this year. We look at the achievements of the departing civic leaders and the records of some seeking re-election.

As politicians pound the streets and make the most of every PR opportunity, there is a strict set of guidelines they must obey.

Watching the candidates for Mayor of Auckland I can't help wondering, do they know anything about the job they seek?