'Come to our bake sale,' said a member of a group trying to raise $140k for a court appeal against a $950k sewer tunnel project.

How do we know it's election year? Bryce Edwards teases out the tell-tale signs that politicians are keen for your vote - and it stars with kissing babies.

Expectations are rising for a settlement by Auckland Mayor Len Brown towards the $100,000-plus cost of a review into his extramarital affair to be made public.

As part of his platform for last year's local body elections, Mayor Len Brown said he would push for a 2016 start to Auckland's $2.86b city rail link. However, his ability to gain an early start to the rail link has been much reduced.

John Key has once again shown himself to be the master pragmatist with an eye for winning votes, writes Bryce Edwards.

Hundreds of thousands of Auckland households face rates rises bigger than the 2.4 per cent average hike being proposed by Mayor Len Brown.

Which political parties can work together to produce a new government out of this year's general election? That's the question of the moment, writes Bryce Edwards.

Dairy giant Fonterra has confirmed it is close to reaching a commercial deal with Auckland Council.

Len Brown has hinted at seeking a third Super City mayoral term in 2016, saying the factors that will guide him include the support of his wife.

Motorists wrongly ticketed in multi-occupancy vehicle lanes want Auckland Transport to use better detection tools such as thermal imaging.

Fonterra is buying the naming rights for Shed 10 on Auckland's Queens Wharf - and will use its Anchor brand, the Herald understands.

'I put this down as a mayor terrified of the real public.' Questions are being raised about the level of security surrounding Auckland mayor Len Brown.

This year presents exciting possibilities to deliver on the goals of the Auckland Plan, writes Auckland's Mayor Len Brown.

Shan Inglis is now in the sights of Wellington man Graham McCready, who is considering laying a private prosecution against her over her husband's hotel upgrades and freebies.

Auckland's embattled mayor has a new date - with a courtroom - as a private prosecution is brought against him today for accepting hotel freebies.

The mayoral office is working on ways to rebuild Len Brown's shattered reputation after his sex scandal.

Broadcaster Willie Jackson is taking legal action after failing to secure one of two urban Maori positions on the Independent Maori Statutory Board.

Former National Party President Michelle Boag is the latest figure on the political right to rule herself out of seeking Act's nomination to represent Epsom in this year's election.

Cycle deaths on Auckland's roads reinforce the need for faster action on critical transport projects, says the city's chamber of commerce.

Minor parties are likely to play a central role in this year's election campaign, but the 2014 election year could be the year of the 'micro party', writes Bryce Edwards.

A bruised and bleeding Mosgiel woman blames the Dunedin City Council for her seeing in the new year at Dunedin Hospital.

An official Auckland Transport survey reveals the horrifying number of red-light runners at some of the city's busiest intersections - and most were cyclists.

Mike Sabin's family and career experiences have helped his first term as a backbencher.

Cycling campaigners fear more deaths or injuries in downtown Auckland unless an off-road bikeway being built through Grafton Gully is extended to the waterfront.

On Tuesday I arrived very early on the scene of a cycle versus truck fatality in Auckland, writes Lance Wiggs. The sight of a person lying motionless in the street with mangled bicycle in the background is chilling enough.