Planning has started for a giant tent to be erected on Queens Wharf for the Rugby World Cup on the site of one of two 98-year-old cargo sheds.

Auckland City Mayor John Banks is telling rugby fans to steer clear of Prime Minister John Key's "party central" on Queens Wharf and party elsewhere in the city.

Leaders say a good job on 'party central' preferable to $100m option.

Auckland City Council is looking for someone to own and run a new night market in the city.

Raincoats and plastic ponchos were de rigueur early on at the first Laneway Festival at Britomart in central Auckland yesterday.

Big-spending overseas millionaires' superyachts are being turned away from Auckland because of lack of decent berths.

Heart of the City says public money helping prop up Auckland's port could equate to the cost of an iconic building on Queen's Wharf.

Alcohol is too cheap and too prevalent in NZ, the Law Commission says.

One in 10 stores on Auckland's most famous street would be liquor outlets if new store opens.