The Auckland City Council intends spending $87,000 of ratepayers' money on a staff-only farewell bash and 32 smaller department dos before it is replaced by the Super City.

Actor and director Simon Prast is standing for the Super City mayoralty to challenge the heavyweight contenders, John Banks and Len Brown.

The Manukau City Council plans to hold a 10-day, $85,000 farewell to itself before it is replaced by the Super City.

The Auditor-General has told Manukau's Len Brown he made mistakes with his mayoral credit credit card spending, but it will not investigate his finances further.

Manukau City bosses have sent four colleagues on a leadership programme at a cost of about $75,000, months before their council is disbanded.

John Banks and Len Brown came face-to-face last night for the first time on the Super City mayoral hustings, barely acknowledging one another.

Shocked education officials are surprised police won't put more effort into catching bus drivers who speed through special 40km/h zones.

Aucklanders eyeing the Super City mayoral contest are deserting Manukau Mayor Len Brown following his credit card breaches, a survey shows.