Climbing a man-made tree to see plants that live high in the forest canopy could soon be an activity on offer at Auckland Botanic Gardens.

Just when David Cunliffe looked about to gather some serious momentum, revelations surfaced about his use of secret trusts for receiving political donations.

With a downed tree blocking their way, and live power lines sparking off the rain-lashed roof and bonnet, Bruce McDonald urged his teenage daughter to remain calm.

A glimpse at plans for the country's tallest new skyscraper shows how it will have open skydecks, with gardens or trees, and has been designed to reflect the Sky Tower.

Will Aucklanders be able to pay their rates and water bills at the same time and ring one telephone number to report a pothole or a noisy party?

New Act Party leader Jamie Whyte received a short sharp lesson on the unhealthy state of political debate in this country this week, writes Bryce Edwards.

The Solicitor-General has ruled that Graham McCready does not have enough evidence to bring a private prosecution against Auckland Mayor Len Brown.

Labour's electoral fortunes suddenly appear to hang on the appointment of an unelected backroom parliamentary official largely unknown by the public, writes Bryce Edwards.

Labour's Maori Affairs spokesman Shane Jones has slammed a new rule requiring Auckland property owners to seek iwi approval to work on sites significant to Maori.

A new rule requiring homeowners and businesses to seek iwi approval to work on sites of cultural and heritage value to Maori is set to be debated by councillors today.

Will this election year be the 'Year of the blogger'? Politics lecturer Bryce Edwards examines the issue in his regular round-up of the political scene.

The council's claims of high levels of design control are illusory and don't stack up, writes Richard Burton. "Very few residential developments will require a resource consent."

The North Shore is losing popular events, like the Devonport Food and Wine Festival and Wag 'n Walk Day, says the area's former mayor.

Editorial: In terms of fundraising, few organisations are in such a favoured position as the Westpac rescue helicopter service.

Everyone's a critic when it comes to David Cunliffe at the moment, writes Bryce Edwards in his regular round-up of the NZ political scene.

The Green Party has suspended low-ranking candidate David Hay for attacking the party's leaders and releasing internal documents.

Mayoress Shan Inglis yesterday accompanied her husband Len Brown to the Howick Military Tattoo - an event from which the mayor had been told to stay away.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown is not ruling out reappointing his former mistress Bevan Chuang to the council's ethnic peoples advisory panel.

Battle between Colin Craig and Russel Norman could be just the first round in an ongoing conflict that will feature this election year, writes Bryce Edwards.

Labour's decision to back the fast-tracking of Auckland's $2.86 billion city rail link at this year's general election is the good news.

A 27-year-old Navy sailor has been allowed to remain on duty after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of trainee teacher Tarun Asthana.

A 27-year-old naval rating has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of trainee teacher Tarun Asthana.

Auckland City Council staff believe their privacy was breached after a million emails were checked during the investigation into mayor Len Brown's extra-marital affair.

A controversial bid to mine an area of seabed off the North Island's west coast has met a backlash, with only a handful of several thousand submissions in support of the plan.

Living wage campaigners say it now costs $18.80 an hour to feed two adults and two children in New Zealand.

City leaders are breathing a sigh of relief after Auckland made it through what has been described as one of its "greatest weekends".

A tiny hapu is calling for confidential terms of a deal worth up to $38 million over the wrecked container ship Rena to be made public.