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.

A controversial decision by the environment authority to approve the introduction of 11 new species of dung beetle to this country has exposed serious weaknesses in our biosecurity processes.

Auckland Council will hold a public meeting to address the desecration of infants' graves at a Glen Eden cemetery.

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.

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.

Aucklanders' rates have given a $46 million boost to 10 rescue, safety, arts and cultural groups in the past four years and a further $14 million gift is proposed for the 2013-14 year.

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.

More than 360 impounded dogs were killed this year despite being suitable for adoption.

An outpouring of support for the 80-year-old business to stay on the waterfront included 4500 followers on a Facebook page and a petition with 2037 signatures.

The agencies that run about 75 per cent of the Auckland Council's services have been blasted by the Auditor-General and told they face the axe unless they pick up their game.

A public inquiry into boosting the number of protected trees on the North Shore has been called a farce by residents whose nominated trees were rejected..

What every liveable city needs is a world-class concert hall, writes Brian Rudman, and the scaffolding has just gone up in the ASB Theatre at the Aotea Centre so the acoustic experts can create just that.

A lot is going well for the Super City after two years but it is still a work in progress with significant challenges, says the Auditor-General.

Pedestrians were allowed to keep using an 85-year-old footbridge above Auckland's Tamaki Drive for four months after engineers had said it was not safe.

Whakatakataka Bay lies at the end of Ngapipi Rd, just before the well-known green boatsheds.