The civil case against disgraced Auckland businessman Alex Swney was called for the first time at the High Court this morning.

There needs to be a shake-up in the charity sector to ensure greater transparency and remove the tax advantages given to big charity groups, a NZ think-tank says.

A 9.9 per cent average rates rise for Auckland households from July is going down badly with residents and ratepayer groups.

Any agreement leading to funding would ask that local roading projects in outer suburbs and bus infrastructure be focus.

Chief economist says Hosking has it wrong when he heaps all the blame for soaring house prices on the Auckland Council.

Six councillors yesterday wrote to Len Brown concerned about the impact the household rates rise will have on ratepayers.

Letters sent to west Auckland iwi and local board members about a proposal to fell two large kauri trees in Titirangi did not mention the protected trees would be included in “vegetation” to be removed from the site.

Len Brown’s office will offer more than $1m to fund a port future study that will take at least a year — not enough time to meet Ports of Auckland’s deadline.

New lending rules targeting Auckland residential property investors will cool the market - but the city's "gravitational pull" will counter any impact, John Key says.

Auckland Council's first big forced-sale property case sparked by unpaid rates did not go ahead as planned when the money was suddenly paid.

Groups battling to save the Waitemata Harbour from further port expansion have found a powerful ally in the Auckland Council, the port company's arms-length owner.

Aucklanders facing a new transport rate are paying "far too much" to subsidise the city's trains.

Documents show there were 13 near-misses at Auckland pools recorded last year, most involving children.

Why should Aucklanders pay a rates hike 9 times greater than inflation because the Govt could not or would not control an unprecedented net migration surge?

Peter Bromhead's take on Auckland rates.

Aucklanders who think it's safe to go down to the waterfront again after the "compromise" over the Bledisloe terminal extensions must think again.

A 9.9 per cent rates increase for households has been confirmed after Auckland councillors voted for a general rates rise of 2.5 per cent.

The rise in Auckland rates will put tremendous pressure on families, say councillors.

Two funeral directors say someone may be killed in increasingly angry disputes between motorists and window washers.

People in many of Auckland's poorest suburbs will pay dearly for a transport and general rates package costed at $214 for the average household.

The Auckland Council meets today to make final decisions on its new 10-year budget, including a rates increase of 9.5 per cent for households.

The last thing Nick Smith needs is Auckland Council holding the Government to ransom over special housing sites, writes Mike Hosking.

The Mad Butcher and mayor of Auckland butted heads over the ongoing Mt Smart stadium debate this morning.

Auckland's mayor says he thinks a transport levy would be going ahead after a council meeting today.

Cracks have emerged between the Government and Auckland Council over an agreement to build thousands of affordable homes in Auckland.

Auckland households are facing a steep rates rise of about 9.5 per cent to pay for Mayor Len Brown's latest budget plan.

Urban plans restrict development of private property and neighbours also have rights if the property is neglected.

Auckland households are facing a steep rates rise of about 9.5 per cent to pay for Mayor Len Brown's latest budget plan.

Much fanfare accompanied the announcement of the Tamaki urban regeneration. But progress has not matched expectation and the Government has set about rectifying flaws.

The compromise between Auckland Council and the Auckland port company will satisfy neither side. Sooner or later, the company has to accept it can have no more of the harbour.