The Latest Breaking News from Len Brown

Composer and lyricist who was a long-time collaborator of Steve Coogan and Harry Hill, and co-created the award-winning musical Spend, Spend, Spend

Gateway cities around the world are so important to national prosperity that they need to be actively supported and with customised arrangements. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is right when he says a new relationship between government and the council is required, argues Mark Thomas

The Detail podcast brings you the issues behind the news every weekday. Here's what we covered this week.

Why isn't Auckland's new mayor Wayne Brown saying yes to more media interviews?

With council-controlled organisations firmly in his sights, new mayor Wayne Brown is sending letters to their leaders with some ambitious marching orders

Council and mayoral election results present the Labour Government with a stark dilemma, writes Peter Dunne: Back down on major policies or call the local electors' bluff?

Many cities chose conservative candidates but the results were less about national trends than local conditions

Who can pull out a decisive late move - will celebrity endorsements be enough, will thousands of phone calls get voters off their couches, or will the biggest budget prevail?

Despite his name appearing on the ballot sheet, John Palino hasn’t been seen on the Auckland mayoral campaign trail. Newsroom caught up with the candidate to find out what’s going on.