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.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown is talking of selling council carparks and naming rights to swimming pools to help balance the books in his new 10-year budget.

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 decision not to move the interisland ferry terminal from Picton to Clifford Bay has resulted in KiwiRail land being sold to a wine grower.

Auckland faces rate hikes of 3.5 per cent for eight years straight and $2.8 billion of cuts to capital projects.

Big cuts to transport, parks and community services will be outlined later this morning when Auckland Mayor Len Brown unveils the first draft of a new 10-year budget.

Hundreds of motorists are falsely registering their cars as ambulances, avoiding more than $200 in fees.

Hundreds of capital projects totalling about $300 million are being deferred by Auckland Council this year to address pressures in next year's black budget.

McConnell Dowell Constructors is drilling an underground tunnel north of Auckland, from the Watercare Pump Station at Orewa to subdivisions north of Grand Drive.

Labour and the Greens both want an immediate start to Auckland's underground railway, but are divided over whether to complete the $2 billion-plus Waikato Expressway.

National has just announced $100 million over four years for new urban cycleways, as Labour and the Greens promise to eclipse that investment.

Visiting world motoring chief Jean Todt has praised New Zealand's road safety effort, but says there must be no let-up, and is challenging sports stars to join the cause.

The Government is looking at an early start on the $2.4 billion City Rail Link - but only for a short section of the route to go with the redevelopment of the Downtown Shopping Centre.

A reader writes: Why is petrol at the pump priced to the third decimal place - a thousandth of a cent?

The Government is muscling in on Green Party turf by promising an extra $100 million over four years for urban cycleways.

A service which connects available pilots with passengers willing to split travel costs isn't operating legally says an FAA ruling in the US.

Auckland Transport is pursuing tens of thousands of dollars in disputed payments after a long-running investigation.

It has dipped its boots in Lake Superior, crashed a wedding and attended an aboriginal pow-wow.

Pressure is building to make travel easier between Australia and New Zealand, a move that could help fill a million empty seats each year on flights across the Tasman.

Auckland Transport staff have made repairs to the sea wall at a number of other locations in Auckland, writes Phoebe Falconer.

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

Night-time traffic on Auckland's Northwestern Motorway is being diverted as heavy concrete beams are lifted into place for a giant triple-level traffic interchange at Waterview.

More and more Auckland Council executives and staff are moving into central city offices with million dollar harbour views.

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

Manukau Rd and Pah Rd are both arterial roads and are designed to cope with significant heavy vehicle volumes, writes Phoebe Falconer.

A long-awaited upgrade to State Highway 1 north of Wellington has moved forward with the award of a major contract.