Housing crisis - what housing crisis? Drive around Auckland's outskirts and you'd be forgiven for thinking the home building sector was ahead of the game as thousands of new-builds come on....

New figures show there's been a big hike in demand for jobs over the past year. So what vacancies are employers looking to fill - and where?

Nick Ferrier's residence was a good candidate to feature on My House, My Castle - not least because of this castle's three turrets.

Robyn and Michael Higgins built their dream home in Wharewaka on the shores of Lake Taupo, and they even included a proper man cave. But a year later, they were hit by tragedy.

The Commerce Commission says it found no evidence that Fletcher Building's Winstone Wallboards unit engaged in anti-competitive behaviour to protect its dominance in the market.

SkyCity's bid to build the convention centre was accepted for one reason: it did not need public money. Unless it can meet its side of the bargain, all bets are off.

Auckland's first house-building factory is being planned for Pokeno and could produce components for two-and-a-half houses a day.

Owners of nine Wellington heritage buildings will receive $150,000 from the council's Built Heritage Incentive fund.

Auckland homeowners made wealthy by their latest Auckland Council valuations are borrowing to do up their houses.

A plan aimed at tackling Auckland's housing supply shortage has surpassed expectations in its first year, the Government and Auckland Mayor Len Brown say.

Andrew Rolfe, Fletcher Construction project manager, said a 16m hole on the corner of Halsey St and Gaunt St in the Wynyard Quarter had now been completed.

Gardening is the gigantic seller for New Zealand's biggest DIY, homeware, trade and household goods chains, dominating all other product category lines.

West Auckland is about to get a boost, with a big landlord announcing a $36 million expansion and upgrade of New Lynn's shopping mall.

Labour's housing spokesman Phil Twyford has raised concerns about anti-competitive building industry practices after the world's second biggest wallboard maker said it was reviewing its structure in New Zealand.

Builder Shane Brealey is selling his 83.2 per cent stake in NZ Strong to Amalgamated Builders' executive chairman Chris Hunter.

Fletcher Construction's efforts here during World War II and its aftermath are detailed in a second huge volume about the business.

New residential dwelling consent data continues to be patchy, but overall, the sector is showing a strong recovery.

Warkworth's village character and market town charm is being put at risk by a big retail development aimed at luring motorists on SH1, say residents.

Fletcher Building has forecast an 11 per cent operating earnings uplift by as much as $66 million this financial year but some shareholders still expressed dissatisfaction at yesterday's AGM in Auckland.

A specialist building and construction lawyer has backed a Supreme Court decision on an apartment owner's access to his Auckland block.

A big court case over one of Auckland's most ill-fated apartment tower developments is set down to be heard early next year.

Auckland's job numbers are growing, with 21,000 added in the past year.

It's lunchtime and Timaru is bustling. Stop a local and ask why, and most will give you the same answer: Allan Hubbard.

Major centres are sprouting a growing crane population, with 76 cranes now on big sites.

Finance Minister Bill English says rising land values in Auckland caused by planning constraints have made it "illegal to build a house under half a million dollars".