Bevan Chuang, the former mistress of Auckland mayor Len Brown, is keen to reapply for a position on the Auckland Council's ethnic advisory panel but is fearful of a mayoral snub.

State house tenants in many parts of Auckland will have to move, at least temporarily, as Housing New Zealand ramps up an aggressive programme of redeveloping some of its oldest and highest-value sites.

The cost of a review into Auckland Mayor Len Brown's affair with council adviser Bevan Chuang has reportedly risen to $250,000.

Two Auckland Council politicians are flouting council rules by planting flower beds on their berms.

'We have to get police to take their buckets.' Auckland Council wants more power to ban and penalise windscreen washers at intersections.

Auckland's 13 Maori tribes say they want to "change the face of Auckland" through infrastructure and housing developments.

Auckland Transport has quietly backed down on mowing berms, but is skimping on the quality of grass-cutting.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown got agitated when he was tackled on family values at his first Mayor in the Chair outing in Pukekohe since being embroiled in a sex scandal last October.

The choice facing the elite Act Party Board members, who meet tomorrow to start deciding on its new leader, is one of focusing on either survival or revival, writes Bryce Edwards.

National flags have long been deeply integrated into politics, writes Bryce Edwards.They can be a powerful force for patriotism and nationalism, but also for electoral advantage.

Auckland's economic prospects look the best in seven years, based on labour, housing construction and manufacturing activity.

Aucklanders have until the end of next month to lodge submissions on the city's new planning rulebook, or Unitary Plan, says Environment Court judge David Kirkpatrick.

Pacific Islanders need to rediscover their entrepreneurial spirit, says the new minister tasked with turning around their job and education prospects.

Mayor Brown has had another vision and is claiming public-private partnerships (PPPs) can relieve the burden on ratepayers.

David Cunliffe has sparked some big questions with his election year opening speech and 'Best Start' policy announcement, writes Bryce Edwards.

Expectations are rising for a settlement by Auckland Mayor Len Brown towards the $100,000-plus cost of a review into his extramarital affair to be made public.

As part of his platform for last year's local body elections, Mayor Len Brown said he would push for a 2016 start to Auckland's $2.86b city rail link. However, his ability to gain an early start to the rail link has been much reduced.

John Key has once again shown himself to be the master pragmatist with an eye for winning votes, writes Bryce Edwards.

Hundreds of thousands of Auckland households face rates rises bigger than the 2.4 per cent average hike being proposed by Mayor Len Brown.

Which political parties can work together to produce a new government out of this year's general election? That's the question of the moment, writes Bryce Edwards.

Len Brown vigorously promotes Auckland but debatable how much his ability to be cheerleader is now compromised.

Len Brown has hinted at seeking a third Super City mayoral term in 2016, saying the factors that will guide him include the support of his wife.

Dr Lindo Ferguson, a former Auckland civic leader and notable heritage campaigner, has died in the Far North, aged 90.

Dairy giant Fonterra has confirmed it is close to reaching a commercial deal with Auckland Council.

Motorists wrongly ticketed in multi-occupancy vehicle lanes want Auckland Transport to use better detection tools such as thermal imaging.