Latest fromNorth Shore

Surprise royal wedding invitation worth a call to Mum
A Takapuna-born nurse, 30, will attend Friday's ceremony with her husband, a flight lieutenant in Prince William's squadron.

Celebrating chocolate (+recipe)
If all those Easter eggs aren't enough for you, Stephanie Everitt's new cookbook pays tribute to all things chocolate.

A grand restoration
A Steinway grand piano carved with Maori patterns is part of Michael Parekowhai's installation at this year's Venice Biennale.

Breakers v Taipans - game one
Photos from game one of the NBL final series between the New Zealand Breakers and the Cairns Taipans at North Shore Events Centre.

Hide faces flak from 'forgotten' Devonport
Local Government Minister Rodney Hide stepped into a hotbed of discontent over his Auckland governance reforms at a public meeting of 120 in Devonport this week.

Five of the best: Climbing walls
Climbing the walls this school holidays? Get them out climbing real ones instead at supervised walls around the region.

Auckland's Coastal Clean-up
Sustainable Coastlines led a group of 900 volunteers that removed over 42,000 pieces of rubbish from Auckland's North Shore beaches and waterways.

Getting back in the saddle
Joining a cycling group is a fun way to stay motivated when it comes to exercise, writes Diana Clement.

My Auckland: Duders Point, Devonport
Logan Grainger, accountant, and Justine Varrel, project manager and mum, are long time locals of the Duders Point part of Devonport. Logan tells Cate Foster why the area is so special to him.

Police cleared in two crashes
The Independent Police Conduct Authority has cleared police in two incidents but found an officer's actions in a Waikato "undesirable".

For an extreme point of view in Waiake
Ocean replaces desert in a piece of Palm Springs on the North Shore.

Five of the best: Urban nature escapes
For a breather from the city, explore the pockets of bush and wetland nestled in suburbia.

<i>Pinot Plus</i>, Takapuna
We had scarcely taken our seats at this small and well-reviewed Takapuna eatery before owner John Ingle was beside us.