Several Auckland councillors expected to abstain from a budget vote this week to avoid plunging the Super City into a financial crisis are coming under fire.

Len Brown is being urged by a senior councillor to accept a court ruling on controversial wharf extensions and instruct Ports of Auckland to do the same.

Hoons are smashing barriers, driving cars on to sports fields and leaving a trail of destruction through parks and reserves in South Auckland.

Auckland's largest public transport operator has issued a final warning to a driver who tried alerting the city's deputy mayor to safety concerns about illegal car-parking on a bus stop.

One of the world's richest men is eyeing a role in the redevelopment of Auckland, says mayor Len Brown.

Auckland needs to grow "up" and it needs political leadership to convince those on the isthmus to embrace that growth, writes Bernard Hickey.

Kauri tree occupier Michael Tavares says he can’t promise he will take a break from environmental activism, but he can promise he won’t be trespassing to climb any more trees in the next year.

The very public matter of a new public space to replace the privatised Queen Elizabeth Square came up at a public meeting yesterday - and referred to a secret workshop.

Who better to breathe new life into the abandoned Civic Administration Building than mega music store Real Groovy Records, asks Brian Rudman.

Auckland Council should follow the lead of Fonterra, which is laying off hundreds of staff in response to low dairy prices, says Orakei councillor Cameron Brewer.

A small crowd of about 50 people have turned out at a public meeting in Auckland tonight to discuss looming rates increases.

There is no sign of a new public space to replace the privatised Queen Elizabeth Square, says the Waitemata Local Board.

Auckland councillors have agreed to lessons to improve their governance skills - a more urgent need is for them to learn how to be better politicians, writes Brian Rudman.

Shoddy buildings are going up in Auckland with workers encountering serious problems and inspection fails at some sites.

Aucklanders should learn the outcome of a legal challenge to the controversial wharf extensions at Ports of Auckland in the next two weeks.

An urgent warning has been sounded for the trees remaining in Auckland's concrete jungle after researchers found there's scant protection left to save them from development.

The port company has a history of making development decision blunders, writes Kim Goldwater. These have been brought about by an ad hoc approach to the planning of port expansion.

The Auckland Council deserves kudos for starting to publish details about the spending of ratepayer money.

More than $100m worth of surplus city-owned land has already been sold and the council says another $250m worth has been cleared for sale.

Auckland ratepayers are coughing up $23.8 million in the region's biggest leaky building case.

A possible ban on alcohol advertising on Auckland Council buildings and land will proceed as part of an alcohol harm reduction policy.

Auckland Transport believes parking fines are no longer effective and calls for an increase to deter offenders.

Auckland Council may follow the example of its transport arm and ban the advertising of alcohol on its land and buildings.

Film-makers face an average 20 per cent hike in Auckland Council fees if they want thundering surf scenes like those in The Piano.

Auckland Council is entering a new era of openness by publishing details about the spending of ratepayer money, says chief executive Stephen Town.

Bus passengers are offered better weather protection and solar-powered lighting from a new range of shelters due for consideration today by Auckland Transport's board.

Editorial: Force-feeding has never been a feature of the humble dairy, yet suddenly it finds itself in the business of public health.

The New Zealand Transport Agency is adding two lanes, plus a cycleway to a 9.5km stretch of the Southern Motorway between Manukau and Papakura.

Kim Dotcom has challenged John Banks to a sit-down on the record interview to determine who is telling the truth in the row over filing a false electoral return.

Fletcher's application to have Auckland's Three Kings Quarry rezoned as residential begins this week.