Auckland Council has started the second day of a meeting to draw up rules for a new planning rulebook for the city with a focus on design rules before tackling the controversial issue of housing density in the suburbs.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown and councillors are under pressure to say where they stand on unlimited housing density in suburbs across the city.

The Auckland Council is sitting down for a three-day meeting this morning to work out the final shape of its controversial Unitary Plan.

A controversial proposal to allow developers to build unlimited density housing in much of suburban Auckland is set to be rejected by Auckland councillors this week.

The Auckland Council is set to put the brakes this week on Ports of Auckland expanding its operations any further into the Waitemata Harbour.

Sandra Coney has forced bureaucrats to concede the politicians' right to see the background information and legal advice they hold, writes Brian Rudman.

John Palino, restaurateur, businessman, actor and suave Auckland mayoral candidate is busy in the kitchen of his smart, two-bedroom apartment.

Auckland councillor Sandra Coney has won a fight to see a legal review of the planning rulebook for the city.

Editorial: Two events have conspired to cloud the St James' future - but any move to save and restore it should be widely supported.

Football's governing body is to build a multi-sports complex with artificial fields and an indoor arena in return for a 30-year lease on an East Auckland reserve.

A popular food outlet drawing growing numbers of customers through social media is in a battle to stay afloat after falling foul of Auckland Council rules.

With a public project like the rail tunnel, it shouldn't need a big stick to force the preservation of heritage buildings en route, writes Brian Rudman.

It's hoped a new nine-a-side tournament will help kick-start the League season, but its undistinguished history means it's not without risk. Yours, as a ratepayer.

The profits and boom in visitor numbers from SkyCity's proposed convention centre have already been built into Auckland Council's accounts.

The Auckland Council has a team of 40 people assembled and 110 potential sites to fast-track the construction of 39,000 new homes in the city over three years.

Ratepayers will have to foot the bill for a sports event that has very little chance of success, writes Paul Verdon.

City Vision has launched its campaign for October's Auckland local body elections with a "family" of 34 candidates.

One of the few Auckland councillors to make a real difference in the first term of the Super City, Sandra Coney, is stepping down at October's local body elections to focus on issues closer to home by standing for the Waitakere Ranges Local Board.

Auckland Council paid $22.7 million to leaky building lawyers and experts in the past two years, drawing fire from one councillor for what he called a huge waste.

It won't create a single new home, which is the crux of the crisis facing the country's two biggest cities, writes Brian Rudman.

The $33.4 million cost of a building to bring theatre and dance to the Auckland waterfront is almost covered by fundraisers - lifting hopes for a start to construction early next year.

Currently Auckland Central street name signs have blue backgrounds which are being phased out.

More than 60 per cent of Aucklanders want their city's public spaces to be smokefree by 2016 or sooner.

Sailor Pete Shierny is fighting for boaties' rights in Auckland Council-owned areas after a hostile "get out" message from Westhaven Marina.

Rodney Hide looks at the big changes planned for the delivery of water across Auckland.

Nominations are now open for council elections and our two largest cities find themselves with practically no mayoral contest.

Major changes are being eyed to save ratepayers money as a Herald survey shows that average rates rises of over 3 per cent have been the norm.