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New election role for Laws - gracious loser
Failed Wanganui mayoral candidate Michael Laws reacted with uncharacteristic grace and humour after losing to incumbent Annette Main.

Rodney Hide: Don't care? Let government decide
Rodney Hide believes Len Brown is good for Auckland.

'Dirty tactics' can't mar mayoral victory
Hamilton mayor Julie Hardaker has been returned to the city's top post in a close race against rival Ewan Wilson that was marred by dirty tactics and strange antics.

Len Brown: Building up for a battle
Len Brown is back as Auckland’s mayor and is ready to take on Wellington. The role, he says, is like being Prime Minister.

Bernard Orsman: A cautious second term for Brown
Len Brown has won a second term as Mayor of the Super City but got a bloodied nose in the process, writes Bernard Orsman.

Brown back for Auckland
Super City mayor Len Brown will be staying for another three years, and the returning Mayor says he's "humbled".

Daycare weighs into Bunnings debate
Kindercare and the St James Kindergarten are opposing Bunnings Warehouse Grey Lynn, raising safety and health threats to children.

Andy Asquith and Andrew Cardow: In praise of Colin Craig ... and openness
Don't get all excited - this article is not endorsing the Conservative Party or its policies.

New home plan no quick fix
The first batch of 6000 new homes for fast-track residential development in Auckland has got a lukewarm response from property experts.

Anti-Bunnings protest outside hearing
Protestors carrying signs saying 'Bugger Off Bunnings' have picketed Auckland Council this morning as a hearing on setting up a Grey Lynn branch continues.

TV stars join anti-Bunnings fight
Actress Tandi Wright and Seven Sharp presenter Jesse Mulligan want to stop the Bunnings Warehouse Grey Lynn.

Community message at the heart of trusts' pitch
Auckland's five licensing trusts are fighting to preserve levels of charity dollars from alcohol sales and poker machines.

Two-horse race after 'scratching'
The two main contenders for the Hamilton mayoralty are running a close race and with voter turnout at a new low - less than 10 per cent at the weekend.

Residents take on Bunnings
Hearings into a controversial Bunnings Warehouse in Auckland's Grey Lynnhave begun, and residents have turned out in force to try to stop it.

Editorial: Stay awake: it's time to make your vote count
Editorial: Local democracy has a delicate life at more risk of suffering from neglect than abuse. When most of its eligible voters ignore its debates and cast an unthinking vote.

Election heads for low vote count
The Super City election race enters the final week with a stubbornly low voter turnout and a final push by Len Brown and John Palino for the mayoral chains.

Candidate blames punctuation
Contender Rob Thomas admits claiming incorrectly in an official candidates' booklet that he worked 14 years for the cities of Wellington and Westminster.

Six wards key to Auckland
The political make-up of the Auckland Council looks set to hinge on the outcome of six wards, where the right is out to put the brakes on Len Brown's direction.

Angry ratepayers seek SuperCity referendum
Members of the Northern Action Group reckon they would do better out of the SuperCity.

McCarten: Lazy voters kill democracy
Time to mail in your voting papers for the local government elections, says Matt McCarten.

Watson feels wronged by claim
A local body candidate alleged to have snubbed pensioners at a campaign meeting this week said he knew nothing about the gathering and feels deeply wronged by the claim.

John Roughan: Grass an ideal election issue
It is a bit of a chore to mow the berm. I live down a right of way and have to push the machine up there for a wedge of grass between my drive and the next. Too often I forget.