FBI called in investigate an international cyber-crime syndicate that hacked into a carpark to steal credit card details from customers.

An alternative plan for Queens Wharf, backed by John Banks, is "an election stunt" ahead of the super city election, says the ARC chairman.

Some say the stylised pohutukawa is similar to the regional parks emblem.

English theatre luminaries Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Judi Dench are on a heavyweight list of artists and historians calling for the reopening of Auckland's St James Theatre.

Parties have just under three weeks to voice opinions about development around Auckland's $452 million Sylvia Park mall.

Ratepayers face a tax bill of tens of millions of dollars because of Govt plans to have much of the Super City run by commercial bodies, the Auckland City Council says.

Hackers who stole the credit card details of thousands of drivers from payment machines have forced a $4m system upgrade to be fast-tracked.

New Zealand's biggest shopping mall is planning a major expansion, including multi-storey apartments and office blocks to create a "mini CBD".