With under three weeks until voting day, Super City reporter Bernard Orsman pens an open letter outlining the major challenges our new leader must tackle.

What would you rather have: cheaper wine or a free pair of pliers and a smoke alarm? Or a local stadium that gets funding from booze profits?

Election candidates are overlooking the young, Asians and the poor.

Auckland mayoral candidate Vic Crone has scrambled to defend herself after refusing to say if she believed in man-made climate change.

Police find "absolutely no evidence" of wrongdoing by Gisborne mayor Meng Foon and slam complainant for "inflammatory comments" on social media.

People in Howick are keeping demands for Council simple: protect their ward's "special character" while ensuring trips to the city are less of an ordeal.

Albany ward, like much of Auckland, is growing. But that change comes with worries.

Mayoral contenders Phil Goff and Vic Crone both say they will tap private investors to pay for an Auckland light rail system if central government fails to fund it.

COMMENT: Mark Thomas used to run a fancy up-market eatery overlooking the Ferry Buildings. He should have stuck with it.

Sprucing up tired town centres, public safety and managing ongoing residential growth are the biggest concerns for Manurewa-Papakura ward voters.

The Campaign for Better Transport organised the public meeting for the candidates to put forward their transport policies for Auckland.

Auckland mayoral candidate Mark Thomas is effectively stepping out of the mayoral race and concedes it is "inevitable" Phil Goff will win.

It's the battle of the bruisers. Mike Lee versus Bill Ralston for the coveted Waitemata and Gulf seat.

Businesswoman Vic Crone is becoming noticeably absent at Auckland mayoral debates.

Criticism said leadership race was between mediocre candidates and called for big ideas. Bernard Orsman asked contenders how they'll do that.

A Wellington mayoral hopeful is reaching out to older voters, promising a rates deferral scheme for retirees.

Mayoral debate front runner Phil Goff talks user-pays, Auckland infrastructure and 45 years of marital fidelity.

The last thing Auckland needs is a mayor elected on a mandate to pursue a needless extravagance for no better reason than he or she promised it.

COMMENT: As we prepare to yawn our way through another round of local government elections, spare a thought for the masochists fighting to represent you.

Environmental issues are expected to be raised at an Auckland mayoral debate in Titirangi this evening.

Proposed new powers for Local Government Commission are anti-democratic and could result in forced amalgamation, opponents of new bill say.

John Palino's three major policies are: "reduce rates" - now that has an appealing sound - but how?

Super City reporter Bernard Orsman takes a look at some of the key match-ups that will determine the outcome of October's elections.

The Electoral Office has added business school owner Susanna Kruger to the list of candidates standing for the Auckland mayoralty.

Auckland Council says 25 names were left off its candidate list for the upcoming local elections due to an "administrative oversight".

Mayoral candidate Phil Goff has launched a bold plan to plant a million trees and shrubs in Auckland.

There are 17 people in the running for the Auckland Council's top job.

Nominations for positions on the various local government bodies representing Rotorua residents ended today at midday, now the real

COMMENT: Let's hope this election we might see some long-standing or well-known names step down and some new brooms.