Latest FromAuckland Central
![Kidnap accused appears in court](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Kidnap accused appears in court
A man charged over a violent kidnapping and a daring escape from Auckland’s central police station will face trial.
![Landlords fight rules for rail link](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Landlords fight rules for rail link
Noise, vibration, trouble sleeping, turning a popular part of Auckland's waterfront and the busy Albert St into a construction site for years and pedestrian and vehicle disruption.
![Auckland: Home sweet home](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Auckland: Home sweet home
Penny Lewis gets a taste of the sort of luxury usually reserved for tourists.
![Grave desecration: Man loses appeal](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Grave desecration: Man loses appeal
A young man who helped his friend spray-paint swastikas and other graffiti on Jewish graves at a central Auckland cemetery has lost an appeal against his conviction.
![Last service for Auckland's Holy Trinity Cathedral](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Last service for Auckland's Holy Trinity Cathedral
The last services are being held at Auckland's Holy Trinity Cathedral today before a big construction project begins.
![Wharf office block wins top property award](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Wharf office block wins top property award
A big new Auckland office block, planned and developed during last decade's financial slump, last night picked up the Property Council's supreme award.
![Key: Banks is honest, has 'options'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Key: Banks is honest, has 'options'
Prime Minister John Key continues to back John Banks as "an honest man" and says he still has "options" despite being found guilty of knowingly filing a false electoral return.
![Live wires slowed rescue by an hour](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Live wires slowed rescue by an hour
The rescue of a man was delayed by about an hour by live power lines, a coroner has heard.
![National Youth Theatre Company: Wiz kids](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
National Youth Theatre Company: Wiz kids
Danielle Wright visits the National Youth Theatre Company at rehearsal.
![Brian Rudman: Take the canary test Mr Brownlee](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Brian Rudman: Take the canary test Mr Brownlee
Challenge Gerry Brownlee to sit in one of the downtown Customs St bus stops at peak hour and breathe deeply of the noxious fumes, writes Brian Rudman.
![Agent pleads not guilty over pooh mail](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Agent pleads not guilty over pooh mail
An Auckland real estate agent accused of posting pooh to a rival agent has pleaded not guilty.
![Tickets rise for texting drivers](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Tickets rise for texting drivers
The average number of monthly tickets for drivers using their phones has almost doubled since 2010, when the law was changed to make it illegal.
![Is Auckland for sale?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Is Auckland for sale?
Is Auckland for sale? The question arises following a mystery development bid on Queens Wharf and a private plan for Queen Elizabeth Square.
![NZ air quality continues to improve](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
NZ air quality continues to improve
Air quality in New Zealand has continued to improve over the past decade, but winter smoke from wood and coal burners is still seeing safety guidelines breached in some parts of the country.
![Can this logo help save city's arts hub?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Can this logo help save city's arts hub?
First it was the Aotea Centre, then The Edge. Now the organisation is changing again. But can a new name and logo bring more big entertainment acts to Auckland?
![Solvent abuse rises after legal high ban](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Solvent abuse rises after legal high ban
Auckland City Missioner Diane Robertson has said her staff have reported a rise in clients showing symptoms of solvent abuse.
![Kidnap accused appears in court](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Kidnap accused appears in court
An alleged kidnapper who escaped police custody in Auckland has appeared in court this morning handcuffed and flanked by two police officers.
![Public warned not to help suspect](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Public warned not to help suspect
Police hunting a suspected kidnapper who escaped custody are door-knocking his known associates.
![Kidnap suspect escapes](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Kidnap suspect escapes
A 23-year-old man arrested over the violent kidnapping of an Auckland woman has escaped custody.
![Woman kidnapped in terrifying ordeal](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Woman kidnapped in terrifying ordeal
A woman was kidnapped and driven from Auckland to the Coromandel last night, with the offender assaulting her several times during the ordeal before she escaped.
![Storm's effects linger on](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Storm's effects linger on
Dozens of residents in pockets around Auckland remain without hot water following last week's bruising storm, while 500 homes on the West Coast still have no power.
![Hot water starts flowing again](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Hot water starts flowing again
Auckland residents who went without hot water for four days can finally take warm showers again, but some remain upset at how the issue has been handled.
![Lack of information annoys](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Lack of information annoys
Some Auckland residents have made a cold and dirty start to the long weekend, after being without hot water since Thursday night.
![Blue skies at Easter Show](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Blue skies at Easter Show
Blue skies and sunshine greeted the thousands of happy visitors who streamed into the Coca-Cola Easter Show yesterday.