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Liveable city dream step closer
Auckland Council's highlights of the past year include a $1.3 billion spend on improving community facilities.

Living wage gets a big tick
Auckland mayor Len Brown has finally endorsed a "living wage" for council workers - two weeks after his chief rival unexpectedly appeared to support the idea.

Tricky tickets: Capital's parking review
Wellington City Council is reviewing its parking ticketing systems after claims it's 'double-dipping' in order to make more money.

How MPs got into first homes
Housing Minister Nick Smith and Auckland mayor Len Brown were in their own homes before they left university. We asked them how they did it.

Health reps to focus on smoking
The 21 winners of Auckland's health board elections will be required to induce GPs to check more patients' hearts and offer more help to quit smoking.

Candidates furious over booklet error
Some high profile candidates in Auckland's local body elections are angry their profiles were left out of a booklet that goes out with voting papers.

Whau - Single ward with two identities
Four years since the creation of Whau - carved from areas previously managed by two different councils - residents still struggle to identify themselves as one ward.

Howick - Ward of wealth and diversity
As local body voting papers go out, the Herald examines the Super City's wards, analysing the big issues.

Auckland faces 2.5pc rates rise
Mayor Len Brown is promising a rates rise of 2.5 per cent next year with inflation at 0.7 per cent - its lowest level in 14 years.

Super City elections 2013: Alternatives hoping to clip ticket
With the voters of Orakei having a bye for the ward seat on Auckland Council the focus shifts to the Local Board.

Time's up for 'temporary' Cloud
Brian Rudman fears the Joyce Team will conjure up some role for The Cloud in a future America's Cup regatta, dragging its "temporary" status out for years.

Ugly mugs spoil billboard effort
The images of themselves that people have chosen in an attempt to earn our support on billboards are unrelievedly unflattering, says Paul Little.

Home-loss fears fuel race in Maungakiekie-Tamaki
Spiralling rates and views blocked by high-rise developments may seem like First World problems to the poorest residents of Maungakiekie-Tamaki.

Candidates changing names to top list
What's in a name? Plenty, when you're at the bottom of an alphabetically ordered ballot form. And that's why some local body candidates are changing their names.

Heated battle for coveted 'capital'
The gloves are off in the Waitemata and Gulf ward to claim the prize of what the incumbent Mike Lee calls the capital of Auckland.

Waterfront Auckland buzzing over Cup
The prospects for Auckland redeveloping more of its formerly industrial waterfront and the fortunes of many big planned new city projects are being seen as enhanced.

Golf club may swing land deal for cash
One of Auckland's oldest and nearest golf clubs to the CBD is considering selling its 4th hole to get out of the financial rough as membership subscriptions dwindle.

Rodney wants its fair share
After three years of trying to fit in with a fast city set, rural communities to Auckland's north are weighing up the worth of being under the Super City umbrella.