Severe winds have lifted roofs and brought down trees across the North Island, but Auckland and Northland have been spared the worst of the wild weather.

The longest road tunnel in New Zealand is one step closer to completion after Alice the boring machine broke into daylight in Auckland this afternoon.

Thousands of students are travelling long distances across Auckland to avoid their local schools - and there's concern about the flow-on effects.

Improving public transport and the ease of getting around the city should be top priority for Auckland Council if it wants the world's most liveable city.

Bus shelters are normally placed at "busy" bus stops, however there is an argument that bus stops become busy when a shelter is added, says Phoebe Falconer.

Taking public transport instead of driving to work appears to make people happier and helps them to sleep better, according to a new study.

Metro rail systems such as Auckland's proposed $2.4b link from Britomart to Mt Eden do nothing to reduce congestion in the long run, says a visiting transport expert.

A UK study suggests taking public transport instead of driving to work can make people happier and helps them to sleep better.

Auditor-General Lyn Provost is holding off commenting on the $2.4b city rail link until details of the project appear in a new 10-year budget for the Super City.

It feels like riding some sort of subterranean paddle steamer on a voyage back from the centre of the Earth.

Three Auckland passenger trains ran red lights last month, alarming rail operator Transdev.

A $11m cycleway through Grafton Gully will open this week - but there's no access to Auckland university - sold as the cycleway's most likely users.

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has left open a prospect of trains, trams or buses running under Auckland's Waitemata Harbour - not just motorway traffic.

Prime Minister John Key says if Winston Peters holds the balance of power after the election, he believes the NZ First leader will exercise it responsibly and not force New Zealand back into an election.

A swarm of hi-vis vests kept drivers in check during a sting at a level crossing in Auckland last night.

The Green Party would push for almost half a billion spending over five years on public transport in Christchurch.

In the Auckland Council's brief existence it has inspired enough "visions" to rival the Vatican's 2000-year-old collection. Queen's Wharf, coastal walkways, sewers, volcanic cones - scratch the surface and you'll find a corny vision to go with it.

The Greens yesterday launched a multibillion-dollar plan to save Auckland from traffic gridlock which dumps mega-roading projects.

Greens want to spend more than $10 billion on public transport and rail projects over the next decade, allowing buses and trains to run every few minutes at rush hour.

It took a dash of people power to free a man whose leg became caught between a train and a platform north of Perth yesterday.

Most Auckland motorists would take a dim view of parking restrictions or fee hikes to coax them on to buses, trains or ferries.

Auckland's new electric trains are back running between Onehunga and Britomart, despite a continuing mystery over a power failure which knocked them out of action last week.

Auckland Transport intends slicing half a billion off its underground rail loop by ditching its deepest station and keeping new trains off the ledger.

Hefty patronage growth on Auckland trains is making the city's transport authority bullish about meeting the Government's conditions for an early star.

Many Aucklanders believe the best way to deal with looming budget cuts by the Auckland Council is to reduce staff and salaries, according to the latest Herald-DigiPoll survey.