Proposed new powers for Local Government Commission are anti-democratic and could result in forced amalgamation, opponents of new bill say.

John Palino's three major policies are: "reduce rates" - now that has an appealing sound - but how?

Canterbury District Health Board members say an archaic piece of policy that gags them from speaking to media should be scrapped or reviewed.

Super City reporter Bernard Orsman takes a look at some of the key match-ups that will determine the outcome of October's elections.

Special housing areas, it turns out, are not making many more houses more "affordable".

The Electoral Office has added business school owner Susanna Kruger to the list of candidates standing for the Auckland mayoralty.

Auckland Council says 25 names were left off its candidate list for the upcoming local elections due to an "administrative oversight".

Mayoral candidate Phil Goff has launched a bold plan to plant a million trees and shrubs in Auckland.

There are 17 people in the running for the Auckland Council's top job.

INTERACTIVE: View our interactive map of Auckland's proposed Unitary Plan to see the building heights and density allowed in your street and suburb.

Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown announced today she will not be standing for re-election in October.

COMMENT: Women and their supporters have the opportunity to change the dynamics of local government this year.

A fresh-faced 20-year-old is stepping up to challenge the "pale, stale and male" status quo in Auckland politics.

Auckland has made heavy weather of its plain need for dense development.

Auckland's Unitary Plan will be transformative for the city with proposals allowing enough commercial and industrial development to let business thrive: expert.

COMMENT: The present young seem to have missed out not just on the direct action gene, but the voting gene as well.

If you believe you can do a better job for your district, city or community, now is the time to put your hand up.

More than 30 people attended two candidate workshops in the Ruapehu area recently for those interested in standing in the local body

Sometime next year, when the Waterview tunnels are opened, Auckland's planned motorway network will be virtually complete.

Often, driving in Auckland, I feel like I'm in a failed state. Have warlords taken over?

It's Auckland's biggest new tower and shopping centre - and Commercial Bay says H & M and HSBC will be tenants.

Make no mistake, Auckland is in crisis and it is a crisis of the council's making. Housing is unaffordable due to artificial restrictions on land supply.

Pipeline was to carry human and industrial waste from Tauranga through the middle of mostly Maori-owned peninsula.

COMMENT: This is an issue for the entire country because if Auckland doesn't work, the country doesn't work, writes Rachel Smalley. It's our economic powerhouse.

I live in the go-to suburb for "gentrification" comedy. Even a house in naff Avondale is now unaffordable.

Labour's push for the Government to abolish Auckland's city limits to get people out of cars, caravans, garages and tents has riled critics but gained support from a business lobby group.

COMMENT: Let's take action on homelessness which has a better chance of fixing the problem and which returns our pavements to pedestrians.

Len Brown wrapped up his last budget yesterday with a 2.4 per cent rates rise - the lowest increase in his six budgets as Mayor of Auckland.

The days of local politicians double-dipping on the Super City have ended after a bill by National list MP Alfred Ngaro passed into law last night.

COMMENT: If there is one part of Auckland that embodies everything wrong with the Council, the SH1 intersection with Hill St at Warkworth would be it.