Phil Goff is the instant front-runner, if not a near certainty, to be the next mayor of Auckland.

Auckland councillors are going behind closed doors to propose rezoning thousands more houses in the city's suburbs for multiple townhouses and apartments.

Tens of thousands of homes in Auckland's leafy residential suburbs are being rezoned and Auckland Council says homeowners will not be notified about the changes.

After announcing he will stand for Auckland mayor, Phil Goff shares his thoughts on how he would run NZ's largest city.

Allowing the side of an infinity pool to count as a fence is among a raft of safety changes that opponents fear could lead to more children drowning.

Incumbent Len Brown's announcement that he will not stand again has left the field wide open for next year's local body election.

A vociferous Auckland protester's soon-to-be redundant anti-Len Brown sign has sold in an online auction this morning.

Phil Goff formally announces he will run for Auckland Mayor.

To say that NZ local politics is devoid of party affiliation is absurd. Here in Auckland we have witnessed well-known National Party and Labour Party political operatives standing and winning seats, writes Andy Asquith and Andrew Cardow.

Ports of Auckland has released its annual review, giving more insight into the stoush over Bledisloe Wharf extensions and its soft profit result.

Members of the Flat Earth Society may still claim climate change doesn't exist.

Mr Brown's office today pro-actively released details about his office spend following an Official Information Act request from councillor Cameron Brewer.

Developers of Auckland's tallest and most striking new office tower have told investors that plans are advancing well.

COMMENT: Announcement that Len Brown is going to the world climate change conference in Paris will anger many.

Tough allocation criteria make it near-impossible for most people to even get on the state house waiting lists. The private rental market is a tough place to enter when you're down and out, writes Sue Bradford.

Attendees will be asked to light candles to commemorate the victims in Paris, and there will be a condolences book for people to leave a message of support.

The cost of cleaning the windows at Great Barrier Island airport is surprising.

The Council does not build the homes. That is the role of the private development and community housing sectors, writes Ree Anderson.

When the Auckland Council was formed in November 2010, Watercare went from being a wholesaler to seven councils to a retailer for 450,000 customers.

Seldom has New Zealand seen, at any level of politics, a rise and fall as rapid as that of Len Brown.

New interactive maps have shown how projected sea-level rise under different climate change would transform our coastlines and inundate low-lying areas.

Auckland house prices have been driven by speculative demand as much as - or probably more than - a shortage of supply.

Len Brown's announcement has been met with relief by council members who say they can focus on milestone decisions for the region's future.

It's rare for politicians to admit their mistakes. Particularly one as recent as Auckland Council's unelected Maori Statutory Board, writes Brian Rudman.

Richie McCaw was granted the Freedom of Auckland by Mayor Len Brown yesterday - the first time the honour has been bestowed since the birth of the Super City five years ago.

The Government is proposing a governance model similar to the Auckland Council for regions that have voted to reject a Super City-like structure.

Lyttelton Port Co, which was taken private by Christchurch City Council last year, is suing insurance broker Aon for $184 million over the handling of its policies during the 2010 and 2011....

Fire safety issues have stopped construction on the first 20 terraced homes at Auckland's biggest affordable housing project.