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.

Improvements to public transport are top of the agenda in Albert-Eden-Roskill.

In a major milestone for Auckland City, the Government will today officially stump up half the cost of the long-awaited city rail link.

It's the battle of the bruisers. Mike Lee versus Bill Ralston for the coveted Waitemata and Gulf seat.

Criticism said leadership race was between mediocre candidates and called for big ideas. Bernard Orsman asked contenders how they'll do that.

T-bar swings are being removed from Auckland playgrounds after a set suddenly failed while being used by a child.

COMMENT: As we prepare to yawn our way through another round of local government elections, spare a thought for the masochists fighting to represent you.

COMMENT: Be honest. Say what you represent and, in the spirit of openness and transparency, be clear about who is supporting your candidacy.

COMMENT: With the passing of Auckland's Unitary Plan, Warkworth's notorious State Highway 1 intersection at Hill St just got worse.

COMMENT: Little things can tell voters a lot about their local government. The Super City's new inorganic recycling service came to our house this week.

Auckland Council is in urgent need of dozens of qualified building inspectors.

Comment: Auckland Transport can sometimes be its own worst enemy. AT hit Crone for ads but what about its own bus signage?

Auckland Council is charging customers three full days parking fees if they lose their ticket at three of its central city carparks.

David Rankin's version of events that he and Don Brash were threatened differs from TVNZ's head of news.

Auckland Council planning manager John Duguid led the Unitary Plan process. He was relieved was see the 'massive beast' come into force.

Centre-right Auckland mayoral candidate Vic Crone says she is encouraged by a poll showing a big chunk of undecided voters in the race for city hall.

Vic Crone is promising to take a tough line with the council's business units, saying they are a law unto themselves and not delivering value for money.

Phil Goff has established a commanding lead in the Auckland mayoral race with fewer than four weeks until voting begins, according to one poll.

Super City reporter Bernard Orsman takes a look at some of the key match-ups that will determine the outcome of October's elections.

Filipaina, chairman of Unitary Plan committee, is not talking about his Rio trip - but photos circulating on social media show he had a whale of a time.

The Electoral Office has added business school owner Susanna Kruger to the list of candidates standing for the Auckland mayoralty.

Looming lapse of the affordability rule in up to half of special housing areas sparks land-banking accusations.

Auckland Council wasted $90,000 to reveal only a tiny minority of Aucklanders are satisfied with its performance, the Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance says.