The Government is becoming increasingly heavy-handed over Auckland's housing shortage, with talk of a new Crown agency to free up more land.

Aucklanders have never embraced the kind of concentrated living arrangements envisioned in the Unitary Plan, writes Dick Quax.

Milford on Auckland's magnificent North Shore ticks all the right boxes for residential intensification.

Auckland's Westpac rescue helicopter service is considering asking a court to reinstate a $300,000 cut in its 2013-14 operating grant from the Auckland Council.

A Grey Power official's complaints about immigration have been labelled uninformed, but the group's central Auckland president says they reflect the feeling of many elderly.

Auckland has 2000 new sections ready to build houses on, says Mayor Len Brown, who last month claimed there was enough land for 15,000 homes.

Youth worker Flora Apulu tells Elisabeth Easther what she loves about living in culturally diverse Manurewa

The Auckland Council says it will not tolerate people eeling in public parks after an eel trap was recently found at Western Springs.

Echoing demands from Prime Minister John Key that Auckland Council free up farmland for housing development, Dr Smith is vowing "to break through the stranglehold that the existing Metropolitan Urban Limit has on land supplies".

New Zealand's largest territorial authority has dramatically reversed its financial position, turning an $88 million loss into a $478 million profit.

What Auckland's cultural scene does lack, when it comes to Ateed and Aucklanders in general, is a true appreciation of the goodies that are on offer on their doorsteps.

Auckland Council chief executive Doug McKay has been asked to investigate claims he and senior staff intercepted and blocked emails addressed to councillors.

A proposed rewrite of Auckland's tarnished heritage rules leaves power in the hands of unelected officials and shuts out the public.

A charity fundraising event had to be cancelled because the organisers couldn't cope with Auckland Council requirements.

Auckland Council chiefs are keeping under wraps a massive diesel truck bought second-hand for environmental education and other purposes, including civil defence.

The days of tiny "shoebox" apartments in Auckland could come back if a new rule in the unitary plan is passed.

Auckland Council's chief planner says he wants the inner-city rail link completed by 2021, despite the Government saying there is a stronger case for building it almost a decade later.

Poor Murray McCully, writes Brian Rudman. Let's hope any other Valentine Day gifts he offered yesterday got a better reception than the one he couriered to the ingrates at Auckland Council.

The installation of a sound barrier at Eden Park could be the first ratepayer bailout for the debt-ridden stadium.

Democracy Action has attacked a decision by Auckland Council on membership of a steering group for the $1.8 million marine spatial plan for the Hauraki Gulf.

Auckland Council's Mike Lee has criticised his organisation's membership of industry organisation the Property Council.

An end to mowing berms in the old Auckland City area and a $30 million white-water rafting project in Manukau are sticking points for public input on this year's Auckland Council budget.

Prime Minister John Key's talk of national standards for resource consents will not help communities or preserve heritage, says Auckland Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse.

Auckland Council has announced a complete fire ban for the region, including Great Barrier, Kawau, Waiheke and the other Hauraki Gulf islands.

Fran O'Sullivan called on Prime Minister John Key to be "bold and courageous" and "get serious on youth employment" upon his return from Hawaii. Excellent stuff.

Bill English should look into a mirror next time he points the finger at Auckland Council for not doing enough to encourage affordable housing, writes Brian Rudman.