Thousands of people witnessed a large scrub fire on Mt Wellington's volcanic cone last night.

BB guns were stolen during a burglary at Gun City in Penrose just after midnight.

A luxury penthouse that once played host to America's Next Top Model has changed hands for $7 million more than two years after being listed for sale.

Auckland's Sky Tower is ready to blast into 2017 in style.

Firefighters responding to reports of smoke at a multi-storey building are using thermal imaging cameras to find the source.

The festive season can be a wasteful time of year. Why not start 2017 with a resolution to use more and chuck away less fresh food.

Queenstown and Wanaka are expected to be the hottest.

There's no paws for Santa Claws as Auckland's cat cafe opens its doors for Christmas.

An Auckland trucking company owner dumped truckloads of the "smelliest" dirt he could find outside a cafe over an alleged $30,000 debt.

A passerby has discovered the body of a man at a central Auckland cemetery. The person's found the body at Symonds St Cemetery and

Nikki Kaye has been confirmed as National's candidate in the Auckland Central electorate for next year's general election.

A woman has been fined $10k and ordered to pay $5k for emotional harm to five overworked and underpaid migrant workers at her sushi restaurants.

The Green Party are to contest the Mt Albert byelection, with a candidate to be selected in the New Year.

WATCH: Unitec preschool kids bring donations and some much-needed cheer to the Auckland City Mission.

What would you do if you found $10,000 in a bag on the side of the road?

The family of a woman killed while walking outside an Auckland garden centre will go ahead with Christmas despite the pain of their loss.

A pregnant Auckland woman is set to become the first Kiwi to have in-utero surgery to reduce the severity of spina bifida in her child.

Dozens of people went topless to beaches in Auckland and Wellington yesterday.

Four businesses caught in the disruption of building Auckland's new underground railway have asked for compensation.

Craft, design and architecture are booming and a new gallery is needed to keep up with this growth.

COMMENT: We all know Auckland is full of problems, writes former Metro editor Simon Wilson, but it's full of potential too.

A new Ferrari showroom is opening in Auckland today amid a booming market for luxury vehicles.

Auckland police are urging joggers to take extra care, following an attack on a young woman at Western Springs last night.

Woman in her 20s was attacked in 'sexually motivated assault' last night near Auckland Zoo, police say.

Project AucklandPhil Goff hopes Auckland gets a good share of the Government's $1b housing fund, writes Tim McCready.

Auckland Council will start working with different agencies and sectors to tackle the city's growing homelessness problem.

Waterview's wonderful motorway connection is exciting but more catch-up is needed, writes Liam Dann.

Quality affordable accommodation is essential to become a world-class city, writes Oliver Hartwich.

Auckland will be a completely different city five years from now, Heart of the City's Viv Beck tells Bill Bennett.

Spark is making sure the Auckland region is well covered with mobile connection, reports Bill Bennett.