It cost half a million dollars, but Auckland ratepayers say the city's new slogan is a costly, pathetic joke.

EXCLUSIVE: Auckland council bureaucrats have spent $500k on a new city brand, which has already been condemned as "outrageous" by some councillors.

Auckland mayoral candidate Chloe Swarbrick has announced a shift to national politics.

Auckland councillors must exercise moderation with alcohol when it comes to claiming expenses, advises Mayor Phil Goff and his officers.

Local politicians demand a say as Auckland's council plans cuts at libraries and parks.

The days of simply appointing two councillors to a board of eight directors are over for outfits like Auckland Transport.

Costs for Joseph Parker's world title fight are set to go sky high, with punters and pubs expected to cop the fallout from Council's refusal on funding.

COMMENT: We must fervently hope there are no more by-elections because the real expense is they make politicians dig deeper into our pockets.

Experts say house crisis is driving us towards a tale of two Aucklands, where the only homeowners will be those who are left the family home by parents.

Here are extracts from the five new faces on Auckland Council.

Free roaming WiFi in many of Auckland's public places, including the CBD, train stations and main streets, will end on November 6.

COMMENT: We have to free up our congested roads. My advice to Mr Goff would be to appoint himself to the board of Auckland Transport.

Phil Goff has declared his council will be about putting people first at his swearing-in ceremony.

An engineer accused of bribing Auckland council staff with more than a million dollars in cash payments has taken the stand in his defence.

More than 80 rubbish collectors have been seriously injured on the job by dangerous items thrown away by Auckland residents in the past two years.

Labour's pledge to invest $680 million in a light rail system has rightly been labelled "pork barrel" politics by Steven Joyce.

Fast-growing councils, including Auckland, will be required to free up land for housing under a policy signed off by the Government today.

In an announcement linked to the Mt Roskill by-election, Labour leader Andrew Little yesterday said his party would fast-track light rail between the city and Mt Roskill.

Is it time for Auckland to get a new slogan? Or is it time to change the city to fit its current one?

An Auckland property developer's attempt to avoid paying council damages over unconsented work he'd carried out on a patch of land north of Auckland has failed.

Protest boats will be banned from parts of Auckland's harbour during a historic visit by a United States warship.

COMMENT: New mayor Phil Goff needs to act fast to stop unelected officials running Auckland, writes columnist Brian Rudman.

New Auckland Mayor Phil Goff wants to make an early start on a $1 billion stadium on railway land alongside Vector Arena.

More than 50 library staff at Auckland Council could lose their jobs before Christmas in a big shake up and cost-cutting exercise.

Labour stalwart Phil Goff's pick of Franklin councillor Bill Cashmore as Auckland deputy mayor signals a centrist path ahead.

Auckland Council boss Stephen Town says he shares the agenda of new Auckland Mayor Phil Goff for a turnaround in council performance. Goff

Employers are being challenged to take on 500 unemployed young people in the next 50 days to give young New Zealanders a break into their first jobs.

COMMENT: Phil Goff has the potential to be an excellent mayor. He is capable and personable. I don't know anyone who doesn't like him.

The weather didn't ruin the first day of the Auckland Diwali Festival, but protesters had a go at spoiling a "joyous moment", an organiser says.