Some bars' and restaurants' "happy hour" promotions will be outlawed under alcohol reforms which come into force next month.

Perhaps the letters editor publishes particularly stupid opinions for readers' entertainment, writes Bob Jones. Conspiracists always being a particular source of delight.

'Yayyyyyy!!!!!!!' Luigi Wewege is clearly excited to announce his big news - he's engaged to a mystery brunette in the United States.

Mayor Len Brown makes great play of telling Auckland councillors to leave their politics at the door of city hall.

The National Government continues to have plenty of opportunities, successes, failures, and on-going difficulties to deal with, writes Bryce Edwards.

The amalgamation of Auckland and the introduction of the Auckland Plan have focused attention on Auckland's diversity, structure and economy.

A plan to build apartment towers up to 16 levels high around Milford Mall aims to make profit at the suburb's expense, says a lawyer acting for Auckland Council.

A Victorian homestead in Pt Chevalier is being temporarily removed from its site while its church owner seeks a resource consent to permanently remove it and construct a replica building.

Bryce Edwards rounds up the must-read political items from the media and blogosphere over the last three days.

Conservative Party leader Colin Craig says there is not a mandate for the Government to sell further state-owned assets.

Bryce Edwards rounds up the must-read political items from the media and blogosphere over the last week.

A 27-year-old naval rating has been charged with the manslaughter of a trainee primary school teacher.

The saying that every vote counts rings true for Tracy Kirkley who has won a seat on the Henderson-Massey Local Board by one vote following a judicial recount.

The Government has warned that criminal charges could still be coming for officials who illegally increased rates and outraged ratepayers, despite a law change which legalised the rate hikes.

National's future appears to be with Colin Craig's Conservative Party, writes Bryce Edwards.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown made a reasonable fist of fronting up to key Auckland businesspeople yesterday at the Herald's annual Project Auckland luncheon.

The future of a Victorian timber cottage used as a community church is uncertain after it was taken from its foundations and put on a trailer, only for the council to halt the work.

The Prime Minister says he is prepared to talk to the Conservative Party in order to stay in power.

A financially troubled council body has splashed out about $41,500 on a party for 1700 staff and family at the Cloud.

It all started at a family gathering where we suggested that, since he knew so little about his ancestors, my father, Nevill Lynch, must be descended from convicts.

Editorial: Mayor Len Brown's pursuit of a policy that would see the Auckland Council pay the "living wage" to its staff has drawn a variety of objections.

Bryce Edwards' wrap up of the different online opinion pieces and articles on this week's 'Roast Buster' controversy.

Auckland Councillor Cameron Brewer says Mayor Len Brown is "jumping the gun" by proposing to lift all council staff to a living wage before knowing its effects on services or trimming $100,000-plus salaries.

Councils are being blamed for the high cost of building New Zealand houses, ahead of the role played by manufacturers.

Mayor Len Brown says there has been progress in making central Auckland safe, but admits more needs to be done to prevent deaths like that of Tarun Asthana.

The former mistress of Auckland Mayor Len Brown wants failed mayoral candidate John Palino to front up about an alleged plan to bring down the mayor.