Auckland regional park rangers' morale has been rocked by changes brought in by the Super City's central-style bureaucracy, says a management consultancy review.

What isn't fair is the way the Government is forcing DoC to use commercial and voluntary partnerships to make up for cuts in state funding, writes Brian Rudman.

Six major retailers are decrying the unitary plan, accusing Auckland Council of trying to design shops and force everyone on to public transport.

Sir Bob Harvey arrived in China yesterday morning for the 22nd time.

People are committing suicide, losing their homes and suffering heart attacks and strokes, because of one bad spending decision by a group of "country bumpkin" councillors.

Hobsonville is the sort of public-private partnership that when it comes to roads and schools buildings, this Government actively promotes, writes Brian Rudman.

As councils head to the polls this year, local government finds itself under attack, with its powers shrunk and its autonomy undermined, writes Sue Kedgley.

Editorial: Half of Auckland may be surprised that Mayor Len Brown looks likely to be re-elected without serious opposition this year.

Winter sports codes are braced for the possibility of a repeat of Auckland's 2011 season where four out of 20 scheduled children's games were cancelled because fields had turned to mud.

"Who wins when the Auckland Council and the Government do not agree on the approach to affordable housing?" asks Mai Chen. "Or when Auckland's unitary plan should take effect?"

" With so much of it, why are the sports fields as hard as concrete?" asks Brian Rudman. "Auckland now has a giant faucet connected straight to the mighty Waikato River."

Is Auckland planning heading in the right direction? Read what others think about the new Auckland Unitary Plan and add your own comments.

More than 1000 striking Mangawhai ratepayers say they are prepared to take legal action against Kaipara District Council over rating issues and the handling of the Mangawhai Community Wastewater Scheme.

Eight men accused of an alleged Auckland Super City voter scam have had their trial shifted to the High Court.

Editorial: The heritage tramline in the Wynyard Quarter had a couple of things going for it when it was rushed into action for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The folks in rural Rodney never were too keen on being in the Super City.

Leaky home owners in Tauranga face paying more than $25 million to weatherproof their homes.

The unanimous judgment of the Supreme Court is significant and unusual.

The community housing sector in Auckland, which elsewhere would be in the market for developer-supplied affordable housing, is neither strong nor vibrant, writes Brian Rudman.