Dame Diane Robertson's early years weren't unlike many of her clients. Raised in a blended family, with parents who drank regularly, who had little money and made Christmas a regular disappointment, she wasn't expected to amount to much.

Auckland Council's staffing and salary bill has grown steadily in the five years of the Super City and will be a big issue in next year's local body elections, says Councillor Cameron Brewer.

We have John Key and Rodney Hide to thank for the scandal erupting over Maori representation on the Auckland Council.

The council organisation has begun marking up 1.2 kilometres of extra lanes into the city centre.

Hotel on Auckland's waterfront will start next year and is one of the largest Chinese investments in New Zealand.

Once it was Auckland's tallest office building. Soon it could be converted into dozens of apartments or a hotel.

Police are investigating allegations that a group of league players played a part in throwing a bottle into a window that shattered and caused injury to a woman.

The winners in the annual Condé Nast Traveler magazine Reader Choice Awards survey have been announced.

Iwi supporting a call by Ports of Tauranga boss Mark Cairns to move car imports from Auckland to Northport at Marsden Pt.

A pizzeria has come to the rescue of Luca Cicioni, the tourist who lasted one day in his forklift job after saying "hi darling" to his boss.

Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown says more Aucklanders should pack up and move to the capital.

It wasn't quite claws out at the New Zealand Fashion Weekend Pop-Up Sale at Auckland's viaduct this morning.

Auckland's parking space has become even more crowded with at least three internet start-ups competing to become the "Uber for parking" in New Zealand's most congested city.

Traffic is still heavy from the city to Mt Wellington, the NZTA tweeted. There are also delays west of the city.

Multiple callers to the Herald reported seeing officers armed with guns in the Lorne St/Albert Park area this afternoon.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown has been dobbed in after his chauffeur-driven car was spotted parked in a loading zone.

Mark Ivil, who was found in a "bad way", following the toxic fume scare at an Auckland hotel, was accused of fleecing more than $4.2m from a number of people.

About 30 people were arrested, 20 failed breath-alcohol tests and six stolen cars were found during a police blitz in Auckland city this weekend.

A special police operation targeting crime in central Auckland this weekend has netted 10 drink drivers in its first 24 hours.

We've already got congestion, but wait and see what we'll get if the Government drags its heels on the rail link, writes Brian Rudman.

Auckland Council has agreed to drop - for now - the controversial sports field charges which were imposed only on clubs in the central part of the Super City.

An ordinary Sunday walk turned into a wildlife show for one Auckland family who chanced upon a sunbathing seal today.

More than 40 people marched from Aotea Square to Auckland Council headquarters to protest rates rises.

Aucklanders keeping abreast of developments on the city's skyline reckon a new $50 million waterfront silo has a rather suggestive design.

A $100 million office block is planned behind the Britomart Transport Centre, which could be expanded.

New Zealand Rugby has unveiled plans for a high-tech All Blacks-themed tourist attraction in Auckland's Wynyard Quarter. To be built on a prime site, The All Blacks Experience attraction will open in 2017.

A controversial new $50 million dome-shaped silo for storing cement has been inflated on Auckland's waterfront.

I'd like to see the Conservation Minister visit the sub-Antarctic region, perhaps for her Christmas holidays, writes Paul Charman.

An outspoken economist says it's wrong to have land tied up when there's a shortage for residential development.

Forget the hikoi and library training, the answer the council needs is in Utah - and it's quite straightforward, writes Brian Rudman.