Public submissions on Auckland Council's draft unitary plan close this week. View a map of the draft unitary plan here.

The Auckland Council hasn't done any work to compare urban and rural infrastructure costs as it asks Aucklanders to adapt to a new way of life.

The draft plan and the housing accord have led to fear, uncertainty and distrust in both the process and in those promulgating the plan, writes Christine Rose.

Whether it's walls of apartments on the ridges overlooking Browns Bay or 18-storey high rises in Newmarket, the council is facing a chorus of complaints.

Intensification of housing needs to be matched by intensification of amenities, writes Dr Jamie Hosking. It must be sensitive to heritage and design values,

SkyCity's rivals say its pokie machines will earn more if Auckland Council heeds calls for a regional sinking lid policy on gaming venues.

Residents of central Auckland fringe suburbs such as Mt Eden, Parnell and Orakei are getting riled at their streets becoming free parking lots for commuters.

Half of suburban Auckland could be built up with three-storey apartments and residents will have no say when developers move into their street.

The continued sprawl of New Zealand towns and cities across productive land is a concern, writes Deb Milliken. It is a particular concern around Auckland.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown is refusing to help a community battling plans by hardware giant Bunnings to build a big box retail store alongside homes and kindergartens.

Auckland plans to spend $4.8 billion over the next 10 years on water projects as the city's population grows.

A little expansion or a step too far is the choice facing Aucklanders with the release of the latest plans to reclaim more of the Waitemata Harbour for port operations.

Mayor Len Brown and his deputy Penny Hulse pushed hard for quotas for affordable housing to be included in the accord, but the Govt refused, writes Brian Rudman.

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.

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.

Auckland Council wrongly listed for protection 150 pre-1940s houses, drawing criticism from the Environment Court.

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.