Some of Auckland's most high-profile locals have spoken candidly about the city and where they think it is heading.

Fears that developers are gaining the upper hand for higher density housing in suburban Auckland are causing a community-group backlash.

Aucklanders could be issued with an arts passport that includes reduced travel costs to arts and cultures events in the city.

Strong measures to consider keeping a central Auckland square in public ownership before it could be privatised have been soundly defeated by the Auckland Council.

Waterfront Auckland has been asked to “take the lead” to build two large buildings on Queens Wharf in exchange for upgrading the downtown ferry terminal.

The privatisation of Queen Elizabeth Square in downtown Auckland has allegedly been pushed through a council committee without councillors being told of an option to retain the $60 million public open space.

Rob and Zee Luisi have more reason to be optimistic about giving young people in Ranui a chance a day after appearing in the Herald's Pride of New Zealand awards.

The Cancer Society is appealing to Auckland suburbs with the city's highest rates of smoking for help to press for a smokefree bylaw and possibly fines.

The reuse of rainwater, secure bike parking and community gardens are part of a concerted effort to make Wynyard Quarter the leader of sustainable urban development in New Zealand.

Environment Minister Amy Adams is seeking major changes to the Auckland Unitary Plan, which she says will not provide enough houses and make housing even more unaffordable in its current form.

The giant tunnel boring machine Alice has reached halfway on the first leg of her long journey underground at Auckland's Waterview Connection project.

Ratepayers are almost $20,000 out of pocket after a former Auckland Council employee helped herself to the public purse to buy items she couldn't otherwise afford.

Amystery bid to build two large commercial buildings on Queens Wharf in exchange for upgrading the downtown ferry facilities appears to be dead in the water.

About 500 planning staff at Auckland Council face an uncertain future in a major restructuring exercise announced today.

A combination of factors is credited for a drop in car usage, including; higher fuel prices, improved public transport and off-putting traffic congestion, writes Brian Rudman.

A decision by the Warriors to ditch Eden Park and return to their "spiritual home" at Mt Smart Stadium has potential consequences for the use of Auckland stadiums.

I commute on a bus from the North Shore to the city, which travels along the Fanshawe St bus lan, writes a reader.

With a million more people to cram in, Auckland Transport is looking at radical measures to help cut commuter traffic. And it could mean parking meter pain.

The water connection fee in urban Auckland has risen by 23.5 per cent to $12,075 at a time when Auckland Council and the Government are trying to reduce housing costs.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown's latest attempt to make an early start to the $2.86 billion City Rail Link in 2016 has been dismissed by the Transport Minister.

The Auckland Council has money for the Parnell cathedral and Lopdell House in Titirangi but no money to upgrade marae.

Planning is under way to slash $2.8 billion of new spending at Auckland Council to control soaring debt and rates while pushing ahead with the $2.86 billion City Rail Link.

Kim Dotcom and his estranged wife, Mona, will be brought together in court today as witnesses in the John Banks trial.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown will be paid $259,500 from July after the Remuneration Authority approved a 3.4 per cent pay rise.

Is Auckland for sale? The question arises following a mystery development bid on Queens Wharf and a private plan for Queen Elizabeth Square.

First it was the Aotea Centre, then The Edge. Now the organisation is changing again. But can a new name and logo bring more big entertainment acts to Auckland?

Until now, the two NZ festivals have co-existed - Auckland on the odd years, Wellington the even. But from 2016, Auckland goes annual for the first time, writes Brian Rudman.