Len Brown wants his council to look more to public private partnership models to create new infrastructure, saying it could relieve the financial burden on ratepayers and taxpayers.

There's about one year to go until the general election, and there are some very important debates and decisions in play at the moment, writes Bryce Edwards.

Politicians of all persuasions are heading to Christchurch East this week ahead of Saturday's byelection to replace former Labour MP Lianne Dalziel.

Olympian and Auckland councillor Dick Quax has revealed he has throat cancer and credits his wife Roxanne for having him receive early treatment.

Anti-development protectionists lost fights at a beach north of Auckland and in Arch Hill this month.

Auckland councillor Cameron Brewer wants a council review into Len Brown's affair with Bevan Chuang widened to investigate a trip the mayor made to Hong Kong.

Perhaps the letters editor publishes particularly stupid opinions for readers' entertainment, writes Bob Jones. Conspiracists always being a particular source of delight.

Some bars' and restaurants' "happy hour" promotions will be outlawed under alcohol reforms which come into force next month.

'Yayyyyyy!!!!!!!' Luigi Wewege is clearly excited to announce his big news - he's engaged to a mystery brunette in the United States.

The National Government continues to have plenty of opportunities, successes, failures, and on-going difficulties to deal with, writes Bryce Edwards.

The amalgamation of Auckland and the introduction of the Auckland Plan have focused attention on Auckland's diversity, structure and economy.

A plan to build apartment towers up to 16 levels high around Milford Mall aims to make profit at the suburb's expense, says a lawyer acting for Auckland Council.

A Victorian homestead in Pt Chevalier is being temporarily removed from its site while its church owner seeks a resource consent to permanently remove it and construct a replica building.

A former mayor of Auckland writes an open letter to the leader of the Super City as he starts his second term.

To the extent the public took any interest in the recent local government elections, council debt levels were a common debating point, writes Bob Jones.

Bryce Edwards rounds up the must-read political items from the media and blogosphere over the last three days.

Conservative Party leader Colin Craig says there is not a mandate for the Government to sell further state-owned assets.

Bryce Edwards rounds up the must-read political items from the media and blogosphere over the last week.

The Government has warned that criminal charges could still be coming for officials who illegally increased rates and outraged ratepayers, despite a law change which legalised the rate hikes.

National's future appears to be with Colin Craig's Conservative Party, writes Bryce Edwards.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown made a reasonable fist of fronting up to key Auckland businesspeople yesterday at the Herald's annual Project Auckland luncheon.

The future of a Victorian timber cottage used as a community church is uncertain after it was taken from its foundations and put on a trailer, only for the council to halt the work.

A campaign to get New Zealanders to embrace their biggest city as a place worth visiting starts today under the slogan "The Show Never Stops".

The Auckland mayoral office has confirmed today that Mayor Len Brown took a trip to Hong Kong in January this year at the invitation of the Hong Kong Government.

The Prime Minister says he is prepared to talk to the Conservative Party in order to stay in power.

A financially troubled council body has splashed out about $41,500 on a party for 1700 staff and family at the Cloud.

It all started at a family gathering where we suggested that, since he knew so little about his ancestors, my father, Nevill Lynch, must be descended from convicts.

Editorial: Mayor Len Brown's pursuit of a policy that would see the Auckland Council pay the "living wage" to its staff has drawn a variety of objections.

Bryce Edwards' wrap up of the different online opinion pieces and articles on this week's 'Roast Buster' controversy.