If city commuters are ever to be enticed to leave cars at home and use public transport, it will take more than a petrol tax or road toll or a congestion charge.

Auckland Council's shares in the city's international airport and port facilities would be eagerly snapped up, say market players.

I am one of those in local government who’s advocating for greater and urgent focus to be placed on containing council costs and, if required, rationalising their expansive role, writes Cameron Brewer.

Brian Rudman asks, how many buildings does the panel think can penetrate a viewshaft before the view becomes as extinct as the volcano we can no longer see?

It is a city that prides itself on its diverse ethnic communities, but Auckland is run by a club of white men living in the wealthy suburbs.

The All Blacks are scheduled to play most of their matches at the Rugby World Cup in England, including the final hopefully, during the hours the bars would be closed.

Allowing councils to charge rates against Crown-owned properties such as schools should be investigated, most of the country's local authorities believe.

Aucklanders commuting to work in the central city will soon have to pay an extra $35 a week at three of Auckland Council's inner-city car park buildings.

Neighbours in Auckland's prestigious Paritai Drive are fighting moves to tag their properties with a Maori heritage designation.

The heritage lobby is predicting wholesale destruction of the city's character suburbs following an interim call to loosen heritage rules.

Now that some of the work on the new St Lukes Rd overbridge is almost completed and the old overbridge removed, can you give an update on this project?

Aucklanders want an outstanding public transport system. But they don’t want to rely on perpetual rates increases to build it, writes Auckland councillor Chris Darby. Despite this the Government remains indifferent.

Auckland is well placed to take advantage of growing global economic uncertainty to accelerate the city’s big projects, writes Michael Barnett.

New signage regulations for residential brothels mean streets housing families and children could easily become a K'Rd-style red light district, a lobby group says.

The resignation of Ports of Auckland chairman Graeme Hawkins for health reasons gives Mayor Len Brown the chance to do what he should have done a long time ago.

Two regular public transport users — Roger Hall on the buses and Barry Jenkins on the trains — share the trials of recent rides.

Len Brown's recent cuddle-up to Transport Minister Simon Bridges reminds me of a poor Whanganui chap banged up in Bali for being willing to believe anything in his quest for a little love, writes Brian Rudman.

Auckland communities are being asked to come up with hard evidence to support a battle to keep 1200 liquor bans on beaches, neighbourhood parks and playgrounds.

People are concerned about rates - I am too. But as a result of our budget work and the adoption of a levy we can invest more in transport, writes Auckland mayor Len Brown.

Several Auckland local boards have proposed changes to dog regulations, including a complete ban on dogs at Shoal Bay on the North Shore.

Auckland Council's bean counters are trying to make a buck out of public lavatories.

Barney Irvine urges the Government and Auckland Council to strive for an accord on transport when they meet tomorrow.

John Key, Bill English, Paula Bennett and Simon Bridges all know Len Brown is a lame duck mayor, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Len Brown defends the function as a thank you to staff, but critics say a 10 per cent rates hike is nothing to celebrate.

I'm a little nervous about supporting Watercare's desire to bury a large watermain along the outer fringes of Cornwall Park.

The Super City's hands are tied when it comes to the law and telling the port what to do, writes Charles Levin.

Editorial: Now that the project has been stopped the company should cut its losses and think again. It has reclaimed enough of the harbour.

In a democracy, if the executive can't get a majority to support its plans, the accepted course is for the rulers to go away and prepare a budget the majority will support, writes Brian Rudman.