Health advocates say a Hamilton City Council decision to drop fluoride from its water supply will mean a costly decline in oral health and the poor will suffer most.

Muzzled and waiting in a sterile room for the vet's lethal injection, this was the last sight that 3338 dogs in Auckland saw.

Maurice Williamson's brief flirtation with fame is officially over, writes Brian Rudman. Dithering cost him his chance to become an international gay icon.

The Auckland War Memorial Museum put on a right royal show for the Queen's coronation anniversary.

Central government politicians have called a roundtable meeting in Wellington tomorrow to look for ways to control street prostitution in South Auckland.

The company behind a proposed underground gold mine beneath homes in Waihi will appeal against parts of the resource consent.

The Government will appeal against a ruling that the new legal aid system is unlawful.

A robust process of engagement is essential to a successful plan, Bryce Julyan. Meaningful engagement requires time to assess and analyse the information received or given.

The courts will continue to operate with the current legal aid system for the timebeing despite the Court of Appeal ruling it unlawful.

It would seem suicidal for a government to declare war on a third of the population. But that seems to be exactly what the Key Government is doing, writes Brian Rudman.

The draft plan and the housing accord have led to fear, uncertainty and distrust in both the process and in those promulgating the plan, writes Christine Rose.

The head of Auckland Transport has come out swinging against the public transport system he runs saying trains and buses are late, infrequent and overcrowded.

Whether it's walls of apartments on the ridges overlooking Browns Bay or 18-storey high rises in Newmarket, the council is facing a chorus of complaints.

Intensification of housing needs to be matched by intensification of amenities, writes Dr Jamie Hosking. It must be sensitive to heritage and design values,

The draft Auckland Unitary Plan proposes a fundamental change to the urban fabric of Auckland, writs Richard Burton. Multi-storey, high-density apartment buildings formerly reserved to the inner city and adjoining areas are now proposed.

The Government says it will take control of housing planning and consent processes from councils if they do not act quickly enough to free up land for houses.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown is backing down in the face of a citywide revolt against high-rise apartments and infill housing in a new planning rulebook for the city.

Local government is where a lot of the governing people care about goes on.

Auckland has overtaken Sydney as a host of premier events in Australasia and is now second only to Melbourne, an industry study has found.

Landowners having to pay the council a share of profits on rezoned properties.

Auckland Council and the Government have struck a deal to fast-track plans to free up land for residential department.

Maurice Williamson has told the producers of the Ellen DeGeneres show that he won't make an appearance if the focus is on him.

The Auckland Council has approved a 2.9 per cent rates increase this year.

A single dairy may have sold $200,000 of synthetic drugs in three months, a select committee has heard, as users start stockpiling before legislation bans them.