A thunderstorm warning remains in place as violent electrical storms pounded Auckland overnight leaving many without power for hours.

NZ Herald Focus: The $65 million restoration of Auckland's St James Theatre is continuing to unearth secrets of the city's past.

Please vote TODAY. Today is the last day to post voting papers to be sure they meet the Saturday deadline for the local body elections.

Landowners on three Auckland sites who were told to hurry up or lose fast-track building rights 16 months ago have sat by while land values have skyrocketed.

Latest figures show just 19.88 per cent of votes have been returned in Auckland, with some areas as low as 16.3 per cent.

#WillSheVote? Lifelong Local Body election non-voter Hinekia Fitzgerald hears from candidates on her journey to the polls.

The High Court heard today of lavish lunches a roading contractor treated council staff with one meal lasting 10 hours and costing $5500.

Phil Goff attended a church service for cats and dogs in central Auckland yesterday. Vic Crone kept out of the rain, criss-crossing the city's malls.

Len Brown was the Super City's first mayor. However, it's arguable how he will be most remembered.

From the moment you jump into the shower in the morning until you stagger back home later that night after a few post-work beers

Former National Party leader Don Brash says a new anti-separatist campaign may end up donating to one of his old enemies, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.

Outgoing Auckland Mayor Len Brown has delivered a valedictory speech.

Auckland's St James Theatre is on the road to restoration thanks to heritage visionary Steve Bielby - combining his passion for quirky heritage with business smarts.

They're not old enough to vote, but schoolchildren are having their say at the ballot box in order to learn more about how elections work.

A 21-year-old has been convicted of wounding a man by stabbing him in the neck in Muriwai this year.

NZ Herald Focus: Passionate environmentalists are determined to preserve a significant piece of bush and wetlands, right on Auckland's doorstep.

Why are young people so alienated from politics? People aged 18-24 are the least likely age-group to vote in the upcoming local body elections.

A rare prosecution of alleged corruption in the New Zealand public sector has heard of a claimed cascading culture of bribery.

The weird, wonderful, and wrathful calls fielded every day by staff at councils across New Zealand have been revealed.

Polls say Phil Goff will be Auckland mayor. So how do the other contenders keep going ?

Losing a leg to cancer as an 11-year-old wasn't enough to put Katrina Bungard off from standing up for others. The Howick Local Board

Apartments will be built on the upper floors of the Civic Administration Building in Aotea Square under a deal unveiled by Mayor Len Brown today.

Your burning questions on the upcoming elections have been answered.

The sprawling Franklin ward has major infrastructure needs, say locals.

COMMENT: Auckland Council has had an attack of the Mills & Boons and decided LOVE is the solution to its most pressing problem.

A new city blueprint allowing for apartment living could be delayed after a late flurry of appeals in the lead up to a 5pm deadline on Friday.

People in Howick are keeping demands for Council simple: protect their ward's "special character" while ensuring trips to the city are less of an ordeal.

Albany ward, like much of Auckland, is growing. But that change comes with worries.

Aucklanders may have to stump up extra $300 million for City Rail Link after confirmation the cost has blown out to between $2.8 billion and $3.4 billion.

Mayoral contenders Phil Goff and Vic Crone both say they will tap private investors to pay for an Auckland light rail system if central government fails to fund it.