The woman who revealed a long-running affair with Auckland Mayor Len Brown is an aspiring right-wing politician.

'Well done to the people of Hamilton, who have shown more sense than many of their own city councillors," said the dentistry specialist. It's an apt commentary.

Last week's admission by the Government that in the year to June 2012, Aucklanders subsidised the rest of the country by almost $1000 a head, writes Brian Rudman.

The Reserve Bank has rejected claims that its curbs on low-deposit mortgage lending will have the perverse effect of reducing the amount of new housing.

John Banks signed his election return without fully reading it, and was kept at arm's length from campaign finances, a court has heard.

The woman alleged to have had an affair with Auckland mayor Len Brown is Bevan Chuang.

A commission of inquiry may be required to sort out the country's "dire" voter turnout for local body elections, a Dunedin political scientist says.

Kim Dotcom has told a court he was offended when told John Banks wanted his $50,000 mayoral campaign donation to be anonymous.

Seventy per cent of Hamilton ratepayers voted to return fluoride to the city's water supply after the council took it out in July.

Auckland mayoral wannabes Maurice Williamson and Cameron Brewer must have gone through a few "what if" moments following the weekend's results, writes Brian Rudman.

Here's a breakdown of the key results and issues from local body elections around the North Island.

Changing their names to get higher up the alphabetically arranged voting list of 28 candidates did not result in success.

Increasing understanding of Maori and Pacific health and more funding for community health are among the goals for new members on Auckland's district health boards.

Three generations from a family of heavy machinery lovers were among the thousands who filed through the Waterview Connection constructions site yesterday to see Alice.

The legislation setting up the Super City corporatised 75 per cent of Auckland's substantial assets with the unspoken aim of selling them, writes Pam Corkery.

Former Labour Cabinet minister John Tamihere's bid to test the water for a political comeback has landed him a seat on the Waitakere Licensing Trust Board

The make-up of the new council shows Mayor Len Brown has 11 councillors in his camp on most issues.

John Palino is going to get a new dog, start a new business and marry his fiancee after failing in his bid for the Auckland mayoralty.

Mayor Len Brown is back for a second term. He tells Bernard Orsman about lessons learned and the priorities for the next three years.

Click here for Auckland's full election results, and find out how much support the elected mayor, councillors and local board members received.

Wellington's re-elected mayor wants to push ahead with a merger of local councils but won't say whether she would run as mayor of the super city.

Sheryl Mai is flexing her muscles this weekend after romping to victory in a 12-way tussle in Whangarei.

Wellington's re-elected mayor wants to push ahead with a merger of local councils but won't say whether she would run as mayor of the supercity.

Tauranga mayor Stuart Crosbie has been narrowly returned for a fourth term, but lost most of his council in a resounding expression of public discontent.

New Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel is calling for an independent audit of the city's books.

Failed Wanganui mayoral candidate Michael Laws reacted with uncharacteristic grace and humour after losing to incumbent Annette Main.