The Government is under fire for fast-tracking legislation which retrospectively legalises the unlawful collection of thousands of dollars in fees from plumbers and gasfitters.

A couple who took out a Master Builders guarantee and paid more than $500,000 in progress payments on their new home are in danger of getting nothing back after their builder went under - because they paid too much in advance.

The future of a $330 million subsidised home heating and insulation scheme is in doubt despite tracking ahead of budget and being considered a huge success.

Aucklanders are now able to go online and discover how their own home and neighbourhoods are affected by the new masterplan, writes Brian Rudman.

A property developer who has copped flak for proposed apartments at Milford hopes Auckland's Unitary Plan will provide more certainty.

The Government is becoming increasingly heavy-handed over Auckland's housing shortage, with talk of a new Crown agency to free up more land.

People signing to build a house are being warned that hiring a Master Builder doesn't mean automatically getting a guarantee.

Our building stock could look radically different in the next few years as owners and architects introduce new seismic elements, an expert says.

Home-building consents fell last month as a drop in approvals for apartments offset gains for other types of dwellings

The Greens, not always practical in these policy areas, have come up with a solution that addresses the problem, writes Charles Waldegrave.

Not only does the Govt deny responsibility but they have conveniently found a scapegoat in those who do not share their political view, writes Bryan Gould.

Consents for 127 retirement village units is one feature of strong building consents data for December.

Bill English should look into a mirror next time he points the finger at Auckland Council for not doing enough to encourage affordable housing, writes Brian Rudman.

The building sector has taken off and Canterbury earthquake repairs are one of its biggest drivers.

Just over four months ago, printer Layton Armstrong and vet Charmaine Abraham began house-hunting in the Otahuhu/Mt Wellington area, looking at places going for about $400,000.

Online service makes it easier to find someone who'll get the job done

It's a tough retail environment across NZ, as new spending stats show weak spending, especially on discretionary items.

New Zealand's house building activity shrank in the first three months of the year as most new work was largely in non-residential construction.