106,060 number of households whose rate rises are less than 2.9 per cent In a political twist, a centre-right move to give the disabled free access to swimming pools was defeated by the centre-left on Auckland Council, including Mayor Len Brown, yesterday

Auckland Council and the Government have struck a deal to fast-track plans to free up land for residential department.

Beaches, civic plazas and on-street cafes will be made voluntarily smokefree across the Auckland region, under a draft council plan.

Auckland Council's draft Unitary Plan is under attack as people engage with its implications for their backyards and neighbourhoods, writes Joel Cayford. The question confronting city planners and councillors should be how to fix the plan,

The Auckland Council has approved a 2.9 per cent rates increase this year.

Auckland water retailer Watercare Services says it can hold its charges for households and businesses during 2013-14 because of lower costs.

Auckland rates will rise on average by 2.9 per cent this year under Mayor Len Brown's inflation-sensitive budget to be put to the council tomorrow for approval.

Auckland councillors are relatively unaffected by a new way of life that includes high-rise apartments and intensification for many of the city's 1.5 million residents.

Auckland Transport will not disclose how much public money it took to run trains and buses to Pukekohe for fewer than 10,000 spectators of last month's V8 Supercars races.

Free entry is being blamed for overcrowding so bad that disappointed swimmers are being turned away from Auckland pools.

Auckland Council's water company says it will start bringing in "much fairer" waste-water charges for 22,000 businesses from July next year.

Ambitious plans to create a $150 million world-class marine industry precinct at Hobsonville near a vast new housing estate have met with a limp reception.

A proposal for a private helipad on the Spencer estate beside the Waitemata Harbour has drawn 129 objections.

Judges Bay beach is a wonderful place to go now that the council has refurbished it but there are many dogs on the beach.

The Auckland Council is sitting on secret documents used to draw up a new planning rulebook for the city and instructed its top lawyer to keep them hidden from the public.

Traffic engineering is probably the only realistic solution to Auckland's congestion, writes John Roughan. "The busway, like the bridge, is fine."

The desire of both National and Labour to rule Auckland directly is clear to see, writes Tony Holman.

Auckland homeowners could become about $24 billion richer under Auckland Council's proposed Unitary Plan as the value of sections will shoot up.

"Why should under-25s, with nothing but a desire for a romantic stroll in the park, be driven out for nothing more than the crime of having acute hearing?" asks Brian Rudman.

The Auckland Council is sticking to a tight timetable on a new planning rulebook, despite claims it is a rushed process and misgivings about high-rise apartments and infill housing on more than half of the city's residential land.

At the end of Hugo Johnson Drive, just about opposite the old Southdown Freezing Works site and the co-gen facility, there is an odd little "park".

A controversial decision to cap Orewa and Browns Bay apartment living heights at four storeys is up for review during debate of Auckland Council's new planning rule book.

A former council call centre operator has been charged with milking more than $43,000 from more than 80 customers' credit cards.

Business is a bit of a struggle for Karen and Don Tanner. They have run their electroplating firm for 35 years but, faced with increased competition from cheap imports, struggled to make a $3000 profit last year.

A graveside sweep of cherished mementoes has cost more than $45,000 to put right.

A young Auckland councillor has posted on his Facebook page a link to a blog containing personal attacks on critics of the city council's new planning rulebook.