Calls of "shame" greeted Housing Minister Nick Smith when he arrived in Glen Innes to launch a redevelopment plan for the Tamaki area.

Most commuters relying on public transport from South Auckland to the central city will have to catch trains rather than long-distance buses under a sweeping network redesign.

Barring some unforeseen catastrophe, we certainly will grow from 1.5 million citizens to over 2.5 million by mid century, writes Graeme Easte.

More than a third of the country's public lavatories have no soap and some even lack running water.

The Auckland Council is talking up another one million residents in the city by 2041, but it is taking a prudent line when it comes to providing services.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown is sticking with a projected population growth figure of one million more Aucklanders.

Auckland Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse says she is confident the Government will address concerns about provisions in new legislation.

The Auckland Council will today ask the Government to scrap provisions in new legislation allowing Wellington to take control of housing developments in Auckland.

Business groups have joined the chorus of complaints over a new planning rulebook for the city - although the Property Council has declared the first draft a pretty good effort.

Auckland Council is misrepresenting the height of the proposed $7.8 million Devonport library building, says Tony Koia.

Lower building heights, tighter controls on developers and giving the public the right to object to apartment buildings are among changes being considered.

The Holy Trinity Cathedral occupies a special place in the life and landscape of Auckland. It is one of the city's grandest structures and the venue for state funerals of its grandest citizens.

The Auckland Council has made a $3 million grant to the Holy Trinity Cathedral at a time, says one councillor, when families are struggling to put food on the table.

Auckland's northwestern settlement of Waitakere is to lose passenger trains after more than 130 years.

Charles Blower knows better than anyone how quickly body-corporate levies can skyrocket.

An issue at the heart of Auckland's draft unitary plan is whether the density of housing should be raised in parts of the city.

Developers are worried Auckland Council will bow to public protest over its unitary plan and housing projects will continue to struggle to get going.

The so-called debate on Auckland's draft Unitary Plan has become disconnected from the big-picture narrative that it serves: that contained in the overarching Auckland Plan, which aims to transform Auckland into the "world's most liveable city".

Seattle's an economic engine, a leader in sustainability and a hub for culture and creativity, writes Dr Ann Bartos and John Mauro. It could easily be Auckland.

We have a huge growth challenge in our city, but with that challenge we have an equally great opportunity, writes Auckland mayoral candidate Joe Palino.

Support for the draft Unitary Plan is "melting faster than snow in sunshine" amid widespread anxiety over intensive housing proposals.

Consultants have been paid $1.6 million for work on Auckland Council's Yard 37 marine precinct development.