Latest from Local Government

'Cut roads budget by $2b'

Youth lobby group Generation Zero says Auckland Council's planned spending on new roads in its 10-year budget should be cut by $2 billion.

Conservatives skip north's byelection

Conservatives leader Colin Craig says the party decided it would not stand in the Northland byelection because it did not want to split the centre-right vote and help Winston Peters.

Brian Fallow: Underground, under spent

Drains and water mains are the ultimate out of sight, out of mind assets.

Decision shifts port expansion step closer

Ports of Auckland will start work in April on the first step to reclaim more of the Waitemata Harbour.

Editorial: Auckland tower a chance to provide new public space

The best thing that may be said about a 36-storey glass tower to rise on the site of Auckland's Downtown shopping centre is that it will provide tunnels for trains out of Britomart.

Ports of Auckland wins reclamation battle

A debate on the future of the Waitemata Harbour and whether more of the seabed will be reclaimed for port use has started got off to an acrimonious start.

English - Wheeler's comments as popular as Ebola

Tower deal boost for rail link

Auckland Council and commercial landlord Precinct Properties have struck a deal to allow the City Rail Link tunnels to run beneath a $550 million, 36-level downtown office and shopping tower.

Aucklanders pick tolls over tax rise

Motorway tolls are gaining far more support from Aucklanders than lifting rates and fuel taxes to fill a $12 billion transport funding gap over 30 years.

$9.2m makeover turns to dust

St Patrick's Square, a pride and joy of central Auckland's streetscape upgrade programme, is looking unloved only five years after a $9.2 million makeover.

Mt Eden sightseers locked in

Sunset-chasers and their cars have been locked in Auckland's Mt Eden Domain again - despite a council apology last month to people stranded there by an earlier closing time.

Tim Hazledine: Auckland needs to think hard about port land

'Economists make forecasts," said the late, great, economist John Kenneth Galbraith, "not because they know, but because they are asked."

Boaties rally against council port plans

Auckland boaties are rallying against council plans to weaken controls over further reclamation of the Waitemata Harbour for port use.

Swney's tax con hits Auckland events

A legal battle with former chief executive Alex Swney has led Heart of the City to pull funding from cash-strapped projects.

Tony Holman: Beware that cloak-and-dagger council

Tony Holman writes: The secretive assets sales project highlights the anti-people, anti-democratic nature of the local government structure foisted upon the people of Auckland.

Council bach rents up 15%

Rentals for the top 10 most popular "Bach Escapes" in Auckland regional parks are going up by 15 per cent, though summer holiday peak rates of $168 to $222 a night are still modest compared with those expected by private owners.