Len Brown has won a second term as Mayor of the Super City but got a bloodied nose in the process, writes Bernard Orsman.

Hamilton residents have voted for fluoride to be returned to their water supply.

Lianne Dalziel has been confirmed as the new mayor of Christchurch, receiving 70 per cent of the vote.

Super City mayor Len Brown will be staying for another three years, and the returning Mayor says he's "humbled".

If low voter turnout is a protest, it's so silent the politicians seem to have missed the message, writes Brian Rudman. They're blaming faults in the mechanics of the election machine.

I don't blame Mayor Len Brown for the nationwide apathy about local-body elections. But he can cop a fair chunk of the responsibility in Auckland, writes Pam Corkery.

Don't get all excited - this article is not endorsing the Conservative Party or its policies.

The first batch of 6000 new homes for fast-track residential development in Auckland has got a lukewarm response from property experts.

Auckland's five licensing trusts are fighting to preserve levels of charity dollars from alcohol sales and poker machines.

The West's drinkers are suckers, says John Tamihere. He says the 'ugly' drinking culture has been perverted by the way trusts monopolise pokies.

Higher minimum wages are also sometimes called for here and overseas as a way to introduce a "living wage", writes Kim Campbell.

South Auckland community leaders want polling booths to supplement postal balloting, for foot-loose electors needing to cast special votes.

Former Labour Cabinet minister John Tamihere admits he is testing the water for a full-scale political comeback by standing for election to two local government positions.

Len Brown has not built a single metre of bus lane in his first term as mayor of the Super City.

Editorial: Local democracy has a delicate life at more risk of suffering from neglect than abuse. When most of its eligible voters ignore its debates and cast an unthinking vote.

Contender Rob Thomas admits claiming incorrectly in an official candidates' booklet that he worked 14 years for the cities of Wellington and Westminster.

The political make-up of the Auckland Council looks set to hinge on the outcome of six wards, where the right is out to put the brakes on Len Brown's direction.

Members of the Northern Action Group reckon they would do better out of the SuperCity.

Time to mail in your voting papers for the local government elections, says Matt McCarten.

Authorities keep telling us of our duty to vote in the local government elections but they haven't made a very compelling case.

Dark horse John Palino has won over elderly voters and narrowed the gap on Len Brown in the race for Auckland's mayoralty.

Scores of voters are still waiting for ballot papers and police have launched two investigations as the local government elections are plagued by problems less than week out from polling day.

It is a bit of a chore to mow the berm. I live down a right of way and have to push the machine up there for a wedge of grass between my drive and the next. Too often I forget.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown last night defended salaries of nearly $800,000 a year for two senior council executives, telling a public meeting, "You have got to meet the market."

Soaring debt, hefty rate increases and a blow-out in the wages bill have marked Len Brown's first term as Mayor and Treasurer of the Super City.