All the action from the bands and the crowds at the 2011 Laneway Festival at Aotea Square on Auckland Anniversary Day.

Live reports, information and anything else we can think of from the Laneway Festival at Auckland's Aotea Square.

Impressive effort opens up options as star filly accounts for rivals with ease.

Council wants to keep sex workers out of sight during this year's Rugby World Cup.

Live At the Islands draws some big music names to support conservation work.

Thousands have been flocking to the Viaduct Harbour this holiday weekend to tuck into seafood ranging from oysters to sea escargots (sea snails).

Quality smallgoods, dried delights and exotic produce are set to make their mark.

Mark Donnelly explains how a better result could have been achieved in St Heliers

A pub tenant is being sought for Auckland's historic Birdcage Tavern near Victoria Park.

Lisa Latta clearly remembers her thoughts moments before Fort Lincoln mastered Antonio Lombardo in last night's $1 million Karaka Million at Ellerslie.

The Auckland Anniversary Day regatta has always been a family affair for yachting legend Penny Whiting - while she was being born, her father was on the Waitemata Harbour racing in the very same regatta.

For local tugboat enthusiast Baden Pascoe, there is something honourable and magical about a vessel that has been a workhorse most of its life.

I managed to spend some time on Waiheke Island over the break, soaking up the sun and catching up with friends.

Alison Shanks has stood on the dais to receive world championship and Commonwealth Games gold medals. But she remembers just as vividly standing at the helm of the Spirit of New Zealand.

Despite marking its fifth consecutive year, the 2011 Auckland Seafood Festival has a number of firsts up its sleeve.

Waka ama is more than just the fun sport of outrigger canoeing, which fits in ideally with our Kiwi lifestyle and attracts paddlers of both sexes from age 7 to 70.

They are the grand old vessels of the sea - the ships of old, restored to full glory to sail Auckland's harbours once again, like they did more than a century ago.

Awhitu Lighthouse, on a beautiful peninsula on the south-western shores of the Manukau Harbour, has remarkable views of the coast.

Friendly faces and warm weather are great memories to take back home.

Essential information for Laneway Festival goers has been released ahead of the day-long festival on Monday - Auckland Anniversary Day.

After watching all those yachts on the harbour this weekend you might be itching to get among them. Diana Clement had a go at learning how to sail.

Sally Foot and husband Patrick thought Hobsonville would be a temporary base for just a few years, but its closeness to the water and easy lifestyle means they feel settled here now with their children.

It's all happening on the water this weekend - we round up some of the best spots to catch the yachting action.