A burst water transmission main on Auckland's North Shore has been isolated and an electrician is assessing damage to nearby flats.

Auckland Council has started to fill a huge shortfall in sports fields and quality playing surfaces, with a $32 million two-year plan for new artificial and sand carpet fields.

Making sure Franklin is not the forgotten part of town is the big issue for residents there.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown is promising a post-election review of council-controlled organisations (CCOs), which could see the number trimmed from seven to four.

The Auckland Council is scaling back intensification plans for the city weeks before October's local body elections.

In the lead-up to the elections, the Herald will examine all of the Super City's 13 wards, analysing the big issues and contests.

The Auckland Council is sitting down for a three-day meeting this morning to work out the final shape of its controversial Unitary Plan.

A rally to voice concerns and help educate workers about proposed changes to the Labour laws is to take place in South Auckland today.

Waterfront Auckland is exploring six waterfront locations in the event Team New Zealand win the America's Cup and bring the Auld Mug back to the City of Sails.

Port of Tauranga is holding up its inland port at Onehunga as part of the answer to avoiding further reclamation of the Waitemata Harbour for port business.

The Auckland Council is set to put the brakes this week on Ports of Auckland expanding its operations any further into the Waitemata Harbour.

Sandra Coney has forced bureaucrats to concede the politicians' right to see the background information and legal advice they hold, writes Brian Rudman.

John Palino, restaurateur, businessman, actor and suave Auckland mayoral candidate is busy in the kitchen of his smart, two-bedroom apartment.

The Auckland Council is today voting on a bylaw which could see beggars, illegal windscreen washers and buskers banned from the streets.

Hollywood heart-throb Michael Fassbender (Prometheus, X Men: First Class) is tipped to play the lead role in Slow West

The key to saving the St James Theatre is not to aim for a grand restoration but simply to make it safe and open its doors, writes Margot McRae.

Ngati Whatua might develop up to 100 residences on its 4.2ha Wakakura block near Devonport.

"Each time there are flurries of outrage from groups of tenants facing a 21- year land rent review, my first thought is, what did they expect?" writes Brian Rudman.

Bullying at a Waikato council is rife and an inquiry is needed to address the systemic and "toxic" problem which has resulted in 120 suspected cases, claims one councillor.

Reverend Uesifili Unasa wants to keep his mayoral election campaign cleaner than the spotless white robes he wears to deliver his Sunday sermons.

SkyCity Entertainment Group's slight drop in bottom-line profit left the investment community cold, as the business faces a huge transformation and capital expenditure.

Key issues on the future of Auckland, including Ports of Auckland expansion plans and apartments in the suburbs.

It is my experience that any discussion about strengthening the social safety net for the economically disadvantaged quickly meets resistance via two types of objections.

It will be another two years before Auckland Council has a single direct debit system for rates, making life difficult for some ratepayers in the meantime.

The council has promised to cap rates rises at 10 per cent, but some confused residents have seen their bills leap by almost twice that.

Auckland mayoral candidate the Rev Uesifili UNasa may be looking for some divine intervention, having launched his campaign at church.