Mt Albert voters should have their voting packs by now - but they still have time to enrol.

A 30-year-old man has been remanded in custody after appearing in Auckland District Court over the alleged abduction of a woman in broad daylight.

The man is facing several charges, including abduction for the purpose of unlawful sexual connection and aggravated wounding.

Denise Roche has won the Green Party nomination for Auckland Central over newcomer Chloe Swarbrick.

Advance voting kicks off in the Mt Albert by-election today, but one of the main candidates is worried no one will turn up.

New Zealand will go to the polls on September 23, Prime Minister Bill English announced this afternoon.

Opportunities Party leader Gareth Morgan has announced the party will compete in the Mt Albert by-election.

Labour and the Greens say they have dropped plans to cut electoral "deals" in marginal seats,

Auckland mayoral candidate Chloe Swarbrick will challenge sitting MP Denise Roche for the right to represent the Green Party in Auckland Central.

These are the high points from Labour and Greens' State of the Nation speeches this afternoon.

Prime Minister Bill English has a duty to speak out against US President Donald Trump's ban on Muslim travellers, the Green Party says.

Andrew Little attacks Bill English, as he reveals his battle with prostate cancer left him determined to strive for a system fair for everyone.

Through international fame and fortune, Chris Liddell has remained loyal to New Zealand business and causes.

The new school year starts next week as the number of empty teaching places in secondary schools is the highest in almost a decade.

Laila Harre has been accused of false accusations against her former Green Party colleagues by a Green Party MP, who has now backtracked.

The new school year is weeks away but schools are struggling to find teachers.

The NZQA website is running slow as anxious students scramble to check their results.

The wait is over - NCEA results are now available.

The intruder allegedly burgled the Auckland family's unit, stopping to flash a light on the mother who had just put her daughter to sleep.

Nikki Kaye has been confirmed as National's candidate in the Auckland Central electorate for next year's general election.

A little boy who loves his rubbish truck driver got to give his hero an early Christmas gift.

The National Party's decision not to contest the Mt Albert byelection can be well understood, but that does not make it right.

COMMENT: We're about to stump up with a million bucks to run a by-election in David Shearer's Mt Albert electorate.

National Party has waved the white flag in the upcoming Mt Albert byelection, with Labour accusing Bill English of "running scared" and daring him to call an early election.

Labour MP Jacinda Ardern has put her hand up to stand for Labour in Mt Albert in the likely by-election prompted by incumbent David Shearer's departure.

Mt Albert Grammar School will open its first boarding facility for female students in 2018.

Labour MP David Shearer says his decision to leave Parliament to head to conflict-ridden South Sudan was because it was a "remarkable"

Jacinda Ardern is thinking of standing in Mt Albert as MP David Shearer looks set to quit Parliament.

Labour leader Andrew Little hopes to avoid a byelection, and to have an early general election instead, following David Shearer's resignation.

Schools are struggling to recruit hundreds of teachers ahead of the 2017 school year.