In the short life of the inaugural Auckland Council, debt levels have soared.

Offered a prime location on the Auckland waterfront, who would turn it down? Answer: Te Papa Tongarewa, the national museum.

An insurance company owned by New Zealand's local councils is one of three insurers that will be allowed to continue to operate on a provisional licence.

In the lead-up, the Herald is examining all 13 Super City wards, and analysing the big issues and contests.

Mayoral candidate Palino says blueprint should not be publicly notified until infrastructure and other studies done.

Today's Editorial: Local body election year might not be the best time to rewrite the city's planning rules - but it's not a bad time either.

A multi-language campaign to get West Auckland rock fishers to wear lifejackets is struggling to make headway against an undercurrent of risky behaviour.

The talk is of big money and benefits of the Super City, but it's hard work for the hopeful politicians to convince their audience of 60 Milford residents that their lot has changed.

Instead of trying to inspire voters to get out and do their democratic duty in a few weeks, Local Government Minister Chris Tremain has as good as conceded turn-out is going to be poor.

Auckland Council has started to fill a huge shortfall in sports fields and quality playing surfaces, with a $32 million two-year plan for new artificial and sand carpet fields.

Making sure Franklin is not the forgotten part of town is the big issue for residents there.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown is promising a post-election review of council-controlled organisations (CCOs), which could see the number trimmed from seven to four.

The Auckland Council is scaling back intensification plans for the city weeks before October's local body elections.

In the lead-up to the elections, the Herald will examine all of the Super City's 13 wards, analysing the big issues and contests.

Waterfront Auckland is exploring six waterfront locations in the event Team New Zealand win the America's Cup and bring the Auld Mug back to the City of Sails.

Port of Tauranga is holding up its inland port at Onehunga as part of the answer to avoiding further reclamation of the Waitemata Harbour for port business.

The Auckland Council is set to put the brakes this week on Ports of Auckland expanding its operations any further into the Waitemata Harbour.

Sandra Coney has forced bureaucrats to concede the politicians' right to see the background information and legal advice they hold, writes Brian Rudman.

John Palino, restaurateur, businessman, actor and suave Auckland mayoral candidate is busy in the kitchen of his smart, two-bedroom apartment.

The Auckland Council is today voting on a bylaw which could see beggars, illegal windscreen washers and buskers banned from the streets.

Hollywood heart-throb Michael Fassbender (Prometheus, X Men: First Class) is tipped to play the lead role in Slow West

Auckland mayoral candidate John Palino is promising to build a smart, green new city - possibly at Manukau.

Bumpy footpaths, traffic jams and shabby buses were some of the issues raised by school pupils with Auckland Mayor Len Brown yesterday.

The key to saving the St James Theatre is not to aim for a grand restoration but simply to make it safe and open its doors, writes Margot McRae.

Ngati Whatua might develop up to 100 residences on its 4.2ha Wakakura block near Devonport.

"Each time there are flurries of outrage from groups of tenants facing a 21- year land rent review, my first thought is, what did they expect?" writes Brian Rudman.