Auckland, July 10 NZPA - Controversial North Shore mayor Andrew Williams will contest the mayoralty for the new Auckland super city later this year. Mr Williams, 51, opened his campaign with criticisms of the two main contenders, Auckland mayor John Banks and Manukau mayor Len Brown.

Wellington, March 29 NZPA - A proposed solution for leaky home owners will go to Cabinet to consider very soon, Prime Minister John Key says.

Wellington, March 28 NZPA - Local Government Minister Rodney Hide has called for North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams to stand down after a newspaper alleged he urinated outside a council building after a lengthy drinking session in a bar and then drove home in a council-owned car.

Wellington, March 26 NZPA - A Treasury brief from December says the Government will not reap big GST windfalls from work done on leaky homes, contradicting a report undertaken by North Shore City Council suggesting otherwise.

Wellington, March 26 NZPA - The Treasury is disputing a report undertaken by North Shore City Council suggesting the Government will reap large GST windfalls from work done on leaky homes.

Wellington, March 17 NZPA - Local Government Minister Rodney Hide is being accused of misleading Aucklanders as the row over plans for the new super city council hots up in Parliament.

Wellington, March 12 NZPA - The design of the ward system in the new Auckland super council means many areas will not be fairly represented, Green MP David Clendon says.

Wellington, March 12 NZPA - Rodney District Council is going to fight to stay out of the Auckland super city council, Mayor Penny Webster said today.

Wellington, Dec 23 NZPA - The Government is moving on with its plans to help leaky home owners and it is up to councils whether they participate or not.

Wellington, Dec 22 NZPA - The Government is working on a rescue package for owners of leaky homes, promising to help fix them although it has no legal liability and the cost has been estimated at more than $11 billion.