Fletcher Building's share price has fallen after the company reported a 13 per cent fall in its first half net profit.

The Kitchen House chain is understood to have closed its doors and sent staff home.

There were fewer building consents granted for new dwellings last year than in any year since Statistics NZ started collecting the figures in 1965.

Ports of Auckland are asking Auckland Council to let it extend its waterfront operations 250 metres into Waitemata Harbour by 2055. The Heart of the City lobby group created these illustrations showing how it could look.