It is a bit of a chore to mow the berm. I live down a right of way and have to push the machine up there for a wedge of grass between my drive and the next. Too often I forget.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown last night defended salaries of nearly $800,000 a year for two senior council executives, telling a public meeting, "You have got to meet the market."

Soaring debt, hefty rate increases and a blow-out in the wages bill have marked Len Brown's first term as Mayor and Treasurer of the Super City.

Opinions on who should mow the berms in Blakey St, Onehunga reflect the wider debate that's raging in Auckland.

Auckland City residents should follow the rest of the region, take pride in their community - and mow their own berms, says a councillor.

Several candidates in this year's local body elections have only recently become eligible to vote.

If you were a shareholder in a huge business, one with $120 billion of assets and an annual budget of more than $8 billion, wouldn't you want a say in who should run it?

Former Cantabrian Ted Smith spent two weeks looking for a home in Auckland when he moved after the earthquakes in 2011, and "fell in love" with the West.

The Herald asked the 15 mayoral candidates for Auckland to answer three key questions in their own words.

Slow start a worrying sign as survey shows many Kiwis feel they don't know candidates.

With grass shooting up in the warm and moist spring, mayoral candidate John Palino is promising to reinstate mowing the council-owned berms in the old Auckland City area.

Auckland Council's highlights of the past year include a $1.3 billion spend on improving community facilities.

Auckland mayor Len Brown has finally endorsed a "living wage" for council workers - two weeks after his chief rival unexpectedly appeared to support the idea.

The 21 winners of Auckland's health board elections will be required to induce GPs to check more patients' hearts and offer more help to quit smoking.