A model in body paint was publicly humiliated when Wellington councillor and mayoral candidate John Morrison told a packed charity art exhibition they would be showering together after the show.

John Morrison used to dream of spending his retirement growing vegetables and catching fish.

A man charged with threatening Wanganui mayoral candidate Michael Laws has appeared in court.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown says he will push for a 2016 start to the $2.86b city rail link after promising voters he would have the project finished by 2017.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

A burst water transmission main on Auckland's North Shore has been isolated and an electrician is assessing damage to nearby flats.

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.

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.

The Auckland Council is sitting down for a three-day meeting this morning to work out the final shape of its controversial Unitary Plan.

A rally to voice concerns and help educate workers about proposed changes to the Labour laws is to take place in South Auckland today.

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