BusinessDesk report by Paul McBeth
New Zealand residential building consents rose to their highest monthly level in two years in March amid growing demand for new housing in Auckland and Christchurch. Read more »

BusinessDesk report by Jonathan Underhill
Two daughters of Olive beauty products producer Branka Simunovich, who died suddenly last June, are considering making a claim potentially worth $20 million against her estranged husband Ivan Simunovich. Read more »

Press Release – Joint Press Release
Paying for services through your mobile phone is closer to reality after Telecom, Auckland Transport and Westpac have announced plans to start trialling a mobile wallet system from May in collaboration with Gemalto, Thales and Paymark. Read more »

Press Release – NZTA
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has started work to improve a high crash section of State Highway 1 in the Dome Valley between Warkworth and Wellsford.
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Press Release – New Zealand Transport Agency
A section of the city-bound lanes on Auckland’s Northwestern Motorway (State Highway 16) will be closed on most nights during the next two weeks from Tuesday, for repairs to the Royal Road overbridge. Read more »

News from NZ Police at 5.54am
Te Atatu Road was reduced to one lane as serious crash investigators process the scene of a single-car crash. Read more »

Press Release – Meat Workers Union
The Meat Workers’ Union and Talley’s Affco will return to mediation in South Auckland today as the lockout enters its third month. Read more »

Column – Public Address
#JohnDotBanks and all
Hard News by Russell Brown
So John Banks, helicoptered in to the Act Party, seems set to administer the electoral death blow to that party by virtue of apparent actions committed while he was still a member of the National Party. If I were… Read more »

Scoop photo report by Anna Sutherland

Thousands marched up Queen Street against state asset sales in Auckland on Saturday. In a selection of handmade signs, the protesters state their point of view.

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Press Release – Auckland Council
The Mayor has welcomed the appointment of Simon Tucker to the board of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED). Read more »

Transcript from TVNZ’s Q&A
PAUL HOLMES Mr Banks, other matters have reared their head over the last couple of days, and David Shearer, the Labour leader, is demanding of the Prime Minister that he stand you down over the Kim Dotcom donation affair. Should he, or shouldn’t you stand yourself down?

JOHN BANKS This is the problem – it’s a sideshow; it’s mostly a media beat-up, and much of it is humbug. Read more »

Press Release – New Zealand Labour Party
The Prime Minister should immediately stand John Banks down from his Ministerial portfolios in light of fresh allegations about donations to his mayoral campaign, says Labour Leader David Shearer. Read more »

Scoop report by Sebastian Mackay
The “Aotearoa is not for sale’’ protest was met with a mass police presence when it marched through Auckland today. Read more »

Press Release – Les Divers
It is with great sadness that his family advises of the death of Sir Frederick Richard Allen, KNZM, OBE. Sir Fred passed away peacefully in the early hours of the morning at Maygrove Village Hospital, Orewa where he has resided in recent months. He was 92. Read more »

News from NZ Police
Glenfield Road was closed between Coronation Road and Roberts Road after a hit-and-run crash that left a male pedestrian with serious injuries. Read more »

Press Release – Routeburn Classic
An Aucklander was second in a hugely strong field in today’s 9th annual Routeburn Classic, an exclusive adventure run staged on New Zealand’s world famous Routeburn Track. Read more »

Press Release – Auckland Theatre Company
Raymond Hawthorne, one of New Zealand’s most prestigious theatre actors and directors, will shortly tread the boards as none other than Shakespeare’s famously mischievous goblin, Puck, in Auckland Theatre Company’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which opens at the Maidment Theatre on Saturday May 5. Read more »

Media Release – New Zealand Transport Agency
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has announced the preferred route to build a new motorway between Puhoi and Warkworth, just north of Auckland. Read more »

News from PSA
News that Serco has significantly failed to meet targets for running Mt Eden prison are further proof that the government’s privatisation of prisons is ideologically motivated not evidence-driven, the PSA says. Read more »

Press Release – University of Auckland
Among the exceptional literary talent appearing at the Readers and Writers Festival in May are several authors from The University of Auckland. Read more »