Auckland Mayor Len Brown has been told it will take a "slash and burn" exercise for his new 10-year budget to bring benefits for Aucklanders.

Archaeologists are the latest group to weigh into a controversial iwi consultation rule, saying most of the thousands of affected sites have not been evaluated.

Government regulators have agreed to shut down Hamilton's six "legal high" synthetic drug shops.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown says the council faces tough choices as part of a new 10-year budget that kicks off today.

Len Brown's principal policy adviser James Bews-Hair says the Auckland Mayor will be "political toast" if the council's credit rating is lowered.

Some cynics think plans for the country's biggest new skyscraper are just a lot of hot air but an Auckland Council boss says wind is something to be avoided.

It seems that many of our politicians are rather 'tricky' when it comes to mixing business, money and politics, writes Bryce Edwards.

Bryce Edwards says it could be argued that continuing strong polling is turning National's strong self-assurance into arrogance.

Climbing a man-made tree to see plants that live high in the forest canopy could soon be an activity on offer at Auckland Botanic Gardens.

With a downed tree blocking their way, and live power lines sparking off the rain-lashed roof and bonnet, Bruce McDonald urged his teenage daughter to remain calm.

A glimpse at plans for the country's tallest new skyscraper shows how it will have open skydecks, with gardens or trees, and has been designed to reflect the Sky Tower.

Will Aucklanders be able to pay their rates and water bills at the same time and ring one telephone number to report a pothole or a noisy party?

New Act Party leader Jamie Whyte received a short sharp lesson on the unhealthy state of political debate in this country this week, writes Bryce Edwards.

The Solicitor-General has ruled that Graham McCready does not have enough evidence to bring a private prosecution against Auckland Mayor Len Brown.

Labour's electoral fortunes suddenly appear to hang on the appointment of an unelected backroom parliamentary official largely unknown by the public, writes Bryce Edwards.

Labour's Maori Affairs spokesman Shane Jones has slammed a new rule requiring Auckland property owners to seek iwi approval to work on sites significant to Maori.

The boss of the Ruataniwha dam project has defended his $84k pay hike, saying the ensuing criticism is 'just the reality of a high-profile public role.'

The review is likely to result in council-controlled organisations being put on a tighter leash governing what they can do without council approval, writes Mai Chen.

Will this election year be the 'Year of the blogger'? Politics lecturer Bryce Edwards examines the issue in his regular round-up of the political scene.

The council's claims of high levels of design control are illusory and don't stack up, writes Richard Burton. "Very few residential developments will require a resource consent."

The North Shore is losing popular events, like the Devonport Food and Wine Festival and Wag 'n Walk Day, says the area's former mayor.

Editorial: In terms of fundraising, few organisations are in such a favoured position as the Westpac rescue helicopter service.

Everyone's a critic when it comes to David Cunliffe at the moment, writes Bryce Edwards in his regular round-up of the NZ political scene.

The Green Party has suspended low-ranking candidate David Hay for attacking the party's leaders and releasing internal documents.

Mayoress Shan Inglis yesterday accompanied her husband Len Brown to the Howick Military Tattoo - an event from which the mayor had been told to stay away.

Taurima's actions are just so shockingly naive, writes Matt McCarten. Ironically, the consequences of his actions may well make it harder for the very party he wanted to represent.

I can understand why the organisers of the Howick Military Tattoo want Auckland Mayor Len Brown to stay away this weekend, writes Kerre McIvor.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown is not ruling out reappointing his former mistress Bevan Chuang to the council's ethnic peoples advisory panel.

Battle between Colin Craig and Russel Norman could be just the first round in an ongoing conflict that will feature this election year, writes Bryce Edwards.