The reuse of rainwater, secure bike parking and community gardens are part of a concerted effort to make Wynyard Quarter the leader of sustainable urban development in New Zealand.

An R-rated burlesque haka has been added to this year's Maori New Year line-up.

Environment Minister Amy Adams is seeking major changes to the Auckland Unitary Plan, which she says will not provide enough houses and make housing even more unaffordable in its current form.

Demanding that bereaved families gain official permission before scattering the "cremains" of a loved one in a public place is a proposal that is doomed to fail, writes Brian Rudman.

Ratepayers are almost $20,000 out of pocket after a former Auckland Council employee helped herself to the public purse to buy items she couldn't otherwise afford.

A 20ha block of land at Hobsonville set aside for the marine industry will now be used for housing after a vote by Auckland councillors today.

A North Shore family of three produced 20 litres of food waste last week, and cut their rubbish bag use by more than half using a separate bin for their organic scraps.

Auckland Council's Civic Building, which contains asbestos, could become a hotel or apartments and its ground-floor be converted into shops.

About 500 planning staff at Auckland Council face an uncertain future in a major restructuring exercise announced today.

Editorial: It is only natural that families want to sprinkle ashes in places that were meaningful to the deceased.

Councillors are asking the public to comment on a proposed bylaw making it illegal for people to scatter their loved one's ashes in public places, writes Kerre McIvor.

The Warriors are considering legal action over one of America's legendary bands being booked into the rugby league club's stadium on a key weekend next season.

Only death and taxes are certain in life but anyone who has buried a loved one knows the tax lingers longer than the living.

Get out the gumboots and spades, urges Dionne Christian, and plant natives to spruce up the region's parks.

Popular ethnic restaurants, catering companies, sushi shops and butchers are among nearly 90 Auckland eateries with below par food hygiene.

Raking in the country's highest household incomes is not making Aucklanders feel happier or more financially secure than other New Zealanders.

The operators of Tournament Parking have made a surprise offer of $75 million today to buy the downtown carpark from Auckland Council.

Prime Minister John Key continues to back John Banks as "an honest man" and says he still has "options" despite being found guilty of knowingly filing a false electoral return.

Today's guilty verdict has ended John Banks' 34-year political career at least three months earlier than he would have hoped.

A proposal to stop the scattering of ashes at public places without Auckland Council permission will have an significant impact on families, say funeral directors.

The next season of renovation show The Block NZ has been given the green light - with some council-imposed extras to the cast.

The water connection fee in urban Auckland has risen by 23.5 per cent to $12,075 at a time when Auckland Council and the Government are trying to reduce housing costs.

Auckland households will have to pay more for water and wastewater charges from July.

Properties worth $35 million have been bought to secure the route for Auckland's proposed $2.86 billion City Rail Link.

Planning is under way to slash $2.8 billion of new spending at Auckland Council to control soaring debt and rates while pushing ahead with the $2.86 billion City Rail Link.

Students' needs increasingly met online but printed books still seen as key

Over recent months, Auckland Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse has found herself advocating for a major change in the legal status of marijuana, writes Brian Rudman.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown will be paid $259,500 from July after the Remuneration Authority approved a 3.4 per cent pay rise.