Building park-and-ride facilities is the first transport priority for Auckland mayoral candidate John Palino, whose long-term solution is to build satellite centres where people can live, work and play.

Major changes are being eyed to save ratepayers money as a Herald survey shows that average rates rises of over 3 per cent have been the norm.

The starter's gun for the Super City elections goes off tomorrow when candidate nominations open for the mayoral chain.

RadioLIVE has dubbed Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee the Minister of No, writes Fran O'Sullivan. It is a label that might just stick after his frank response to Auckland Mayor Len Brown's latest foray into transport funding.

A Waikato wellness retreat that has nurtured hundreds of earthquake-frazzled Christchurch residents back to health for free may have to close its doors.

Auckland is a work in progress and now is not the time to deviate from the current path, says Len Brown as he seeks a second term as mayor of the Super City.

A lopsided mayoralty race is bad enough, but at councillor level, confusion abounds, writes Brian Rudman. "With what promises to be a one-horse mayoral race, this October's contest is likely to attract a turnout more akin to the 38 per cent of 2007."

The Government's willingness to bail out councils that break the law is angering the ratepayers who are paying the cost.

John Palino, mayoral candidate, restaurateur, businessman and actor, spent some time this week giving me a lesson on acting techniques.

The deputy leader of Communities and Residents, George Wood, has abandoned the centre-right ticket and set up a new ticket on the North Shore to contest October's local body elections.

The Waitakere Ranges Protection Society celebrates its 40th anniversary, knowing its battle to keep a wilderness on Auckland's doorstep is still far from over.

Under-fire Christchurch City Council chief executive Tony Marryatt will remain on special leave while an independent investigation is carried out into his actions.

Controversial Christchurch City Council chief executive Tony Marryatt's job is on the line today at a secret council meeting that will discuss his future.

Charging $3 for a 20-minute hospital visit is profiting from people's suffering, says Scott McGill.

Auckland Council's senior management are refusing to give councillor Sandra Coney access to a legal review of the new planning rulebook for the city.

Hospital carpark operators charging the same as spots in the CBD have been accused of "making money out of misery".

Hopefully the agreed provisions in the bylaw for socially responsible intervention to deal with the problem of begging will remain intact. writes Mike Lee.

The importance of well established and team sports to young people is a key finding in an Auckland survey of 8000 school-age boys and girls.

You'd think there was a civil war raging in Wellington, writes Bob Jones. "At its root lies a single factor, namely envy of Auckland's population growth and commercial expansion."

Christchurch City Council will continue to issue building consents despite losing its accreditation, but has seen its credit rating downgraded today.

Transport chiefs celebrating Britomart's 10th birthday as an underground train station are looking forward to punching a big hole out from its western end.

Former Auckland mayor Christine Fletcher has told how she effectively bet her home as well as $300 million of ratepayers' money on her vision for Britomart.

Forget kissing babies - one Supercity mayoral contender is selling sushi while waiting for voters to make up their minds.