Hundreds of thousands of households have been charged the higher rate of GST for goods supplied before the GST rise took place.

Wellington's new mayor Celia Wade-Brown says the closeness of her victory over Kerry Prendergast highlights the need for inclusiveness.

The Green Party's Celia Wade-Brown has ousted Kerry Prendergast as Wellington mayor after the counting of special votes was completed this afternoon.

Penny Hulse, Deputy Mayor of Waitakere City, has today been confirmed Deputy Mayor of the Super City by Mayor-elect Len Brown.

South Island mayors will unite to fight the economic pulling power of Auckland's new Super City - a move that may hamper multi-billion-dollar dreams to unclog the city's roads.