New Zealand'The most difficult time of my life'Amid calls of "shame on you'' from the gallery, Auckland Mayor Len Brown was thrown a lifeline by his councillors when they voted to censure him but did not hold a vote of no confidence.19 Dec 06:14 AM
New ZealandBrown: Censure 'fair but very firm'Auckland Mayor Len Brown says his council's decision to censure him today was "fair but very firm" and appropriate.19 Dec 03:33 AM
CartoonsAwaiting punishmentCartoonist Rod Emmerson's view on Len Brown's Judgment Day.18 Dec 04:30 PM
New ZealandCouncil pays $60m for sports groundsAuckland Council is paying $60.7 million for Auckland University's home for cricket and rugby.18 Dec 04:30 PM
New ZealandBrown editorial: The reactionThe NZ Herald has today called for Len Brown to stand down, after it was revealed he failed to declare free hotel rooms and upgrades. But what do New Zealanders think?18 Dec 03:30 AM
New ZealandBrown: No-confidence voteAuckland Mayor Len Brown could face a vote of no-confidence tomorrow, with a quarter of the city's councillors proposing the motion.18 Dec 01:05 AM
New ZealandBrown laments his 'annus horribilis'Auckland mayor has said he is copping "a fair old whack around the ears" this "annus horribilis" and repeated his failure to declare hotel freebies was 'a lack of clarity' on his part,17 Dec 08:32 PM
New ZealandOfficials reject landfarming claimsOfficials in New Zealand's leading oil and gas region are rejecting claims that cows are being allowed to graze on land polluted by waste from mining and fracking operations.17 Dec 04:30 PM
New ZealandMayor Len Brown to be censuredAuckland councillors have agreed to censure Mayor Len Brown after a five-hour meeting today to decide how to punish him over fallout from his sex scandal.16 Dec 03:03 AM
OpinionBryce EdwardsBryce Edwards: Political roundup: So, who won the asset sales referendum?There's been a battle over the weekend about how to interpret, sell, and spin the asset sales referendum results, writes Bryce Edwards.16 Dec 12:38 AM
OpinionBrian RudmanBrian Rudman: Len's path to redemption in council handsRegardless of the rights or wrongs of the upgrades arithmetic, the mayor's reputation is in tatters, writes Brian Rudman. His redemption, and his legacy, now relies on him delivering the goods.15 Dec 04:30 PM
New ZealandYoung won't make waves for fit adultsCivic leaders on Auckland's North Shore are trying to get a public pool designed for kids to "let loose" on playing features without disturbing mature patrons trying to exercise.15 Dec 04:30 PM
New ZealandCasino conflict flaresEmbattled mayor Len Brown tomorrow faces an angry council seeking to blunt his powers in the wake of the mayoral sex scandal.14 Dec 04:30 PM
New ZealandWewege paid $13k by PalinoPolitical campaign worker Luigi Wewege pocketed $13,000 for just three months' work on John Palino's failed Auckland mayoral bid - a sum that has surprised volunteers on other political campaigns.14 Dec 04:30 PM
New ZealandLen Brown: I'm stayingLen Brown says he is no lame-duck mayor after a damning report found he failed to declare more than $39k in free hotel rooms and upgrades.13 Dec 04:30 PM
New ZealandReport on Mayor's spend-upThe report into Auckland Mayor Len Brown's use of council resources was finally issued yesterday after legal wrangling delayed its release.13 Dec 04:30 PM
New ZealandLen Brown's spend-up revealedLen Brown used his council phone to make nearly 1400 personal calls and texts to Bevan Chuang and failed to declare more than $39,000 in free hotel rooms and upgrades.13 Dec 01:38 AM
OpinionBryce EdwardsBryce Edwards: Political roundup: Deception and integrity in politics and public lifePolitics blogger Bryce Edwards rounds up reaction to the news that the Prime Minister's press secretary Jason Ede sent photos to WhaleOil.13 Dec 12:45 AM
New ZealandMassive data leak hits motoristsWellington City Council has admitted personal details of up to 120,000 people were inadvertently released by its parking contractor.12 Dec 11:58 PM
OpinionBrian RudmanBrian Rudman: Like it or not, Brown can't be firedLike the colourful Mayor Rob Ford of Toronto, Mr Brown, if he so desires, can sit it out until hell freezes over, writes Brian Rudman. That's unless he's chased out of town and thus ceases to remain an elector.12 Dec 08:30 PM
New ZealandLen Brown silent on hotel billsAuckland Mayor Len Brown will not say if he has received free hotel rooms as pressure mounts on him to come clean on overnight stays in the city.12 Dec 04:30 PM
New ZealandCriticism of mayor's hotel useAn Auckland councillor has launched a stinging attack on mayor Len Brown, saying the latest twist in the mayoral sex scandal has familiar overtones.11 Dec 09:11 PM
New ZealandLen Brown affair: Hotel hold-upThe use of hotel rooms by Mayor Len Brown is believed to be at the centre of a legal wrangle holding up the release of a report into any use of council funds during his affair.11 Dec 04:30 PM
OpinionBryce EdwardsBryce Edwards: Political roundup: Who cares about poverty?Is it any wonder that poverty tends to be put in the 'too hard' basket, asks politics lecturer Bryce Edwards.11 Dec 02:52 AM
BusinessMore land needed for Auckland growth - council reportWithout action, Auckland faces a shortage of business-zoned land, potentially hampering manufacturing, transport, storage, construction and wholesale trades.10 Dec 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'SullivanFran O'Sullivan: Review of Len Brown under watchAuditor-General Lyn Provost is keeping a watching brief on Auckland Council chief executive Doug McKay's review of Mayor Len Brown's possible use of council resources.10 Dec 04:30 PM
New ZealandMayor seeks advice over draft reportAuckland Mayor Len Brown is taking advice as he ponders the first draft of an Ernst & Young report. into any use of council resources during his two-year affair.09 Dec 04:30 PM
OpinionBryce EdwardsBryce Edwards: Political roundup: NZ reaction to Mandela deathThe death of Mandela has given rise to some very important and interesting political debate in NZ, writes Bryce Edwards.09 Dec 02:48 AM
OpinionBrian RudmanBrian Rudman: 500 homes? P-P-P-praise the lordHousing Minister Nick Smith and his Cabinet colleagues have finally decided to lead from the front in dealing with Auckland's housing crisis, writes Brian Rudman. They are to fast-track the purchase of 16.5ha at Hobsonville Pt.08 Dec 04:30 PM
OpinionBrian RudmanBrian Rudman: When PPP ends up down the sewerThe Auditor-General's damning report into the Kaipara District Council's Mangawhai sewerage scheme is a salutary counterbalance to the positive Ernst and Young report on the public private partnership model for building new infrastructure.05 Dec 04:30 PM
OpinionBryce EdwardsBryce Edwards: Political roundup: Is NZ really the least corrupt country?Never before has the word 'corruption' been in so much use in New Zealand politics, writes Bryce Edwards. The legal trial of John Banks is just the latest political scandal that involves allegations of corruption.05 Dec 01:16 AM
New ZealandMPs validate Kaipara ratesParliament last night passed a law without dissent validating irregularities in the setting and assessing of rates by the Kaipara District Council from the 2006-07 financial year to 2011-12.04 Dec 04:30 PM
