One person has died as a result of a serious crash in Clevedon, south Auckland, this morning. Emergency services were called to the scene on Clevedon Kawakawa Bay Road around 8.40am. The male driver of one of the vehicles was trapped for a time and a helicopter was called, but the male was pronounced dead at the scene. The road is closed...

Auckland Council’s reply on building heights described as disingenuous, as Marianne Kelly reports...

It’s not very often that students of hospitality and food technology get to run their own cafe at school. But for Pakuranga College, the long-standing dream was translated into reality recently at the official launch of the school cafe. Marking the special occasion were principals of local schools Brent Jenkin, principal Wakaaranga School and Stephanie Young, deputy principal Farm Cove...

New Zealand rugby has never enjoyed greater depth. However keeping the best of the rising stars in face of lucrative offers from abroad could become a major problem. Take the situation at first-five where Beauden Barrett’s brilliance has seen him upstage a still very gifted Aaron Cruden for the test starting berth. Will Cruden be content to remain a reserve? And...

Let’s fix Hobsonville Blenheim, which has a population of 30,600, has built an airport now capable of taking international flights and soon will be. The North Shore, which has a population of 205,605, doesn’t even have one. Hobsonville, in terms of domestic and international flights, is dysfunctional but with a bit of initiative could be made into one. This would go a long...

Known as a pioneer in Macleans College’s English department and a literary genius in the eyes of students, Michael Green devoted 15 years to imparting his knowledge and love for language. On Thursday evening, Macleans lost a giant among men. Larger than life, gentle and kind, Mr Green was loved dearly by students and teachers alike. His passion was contagious...

Abby Lockhart and Kylah Olliver have been breaking tackles and any other barriers that get in their way in a sport dominated by boys for a few years now. The two 12-year-old rugby players, year eight students at Somerville Intermediate, are far from concerned that they are the only girls in their teams. “It’s fine, it doesn’t stop me from doing...

A driver allegedly involved with the hit-and-run of a toddler in Flat Bush is being interviewed by police. Police have confirmed they are speaking to a 23-year-old male in relation to the hit-and-run of a four-year-old boy on Baverstock Rd last Thursday morning. The investigation was on-going, police told the Times, and no further information was available. A mother was walking her...

Out-of-scope changes which have the potential to block iconic view shafts from Stockade Hill and Crawford Park, Howick, have been left in the Auckland Unitary Plan (AUP) to be publicly notified tomorrow

Bad Girls Genre: Musical theatre Written by: Maureen Chadwick and Ann McManus Music and lyrics: Kath Gotts Directed by: Susanne Dell Reviewed by: Diane Andrew Four stars Dubbed the ‘baddest and the best’ show in town, Harlequin Musical Theatre’s production of Bad Girls is a funny and entertaining rendition of the popular television drama of the same name. The British musical is based on characters from the...

Howick people have made their feelings known to Auckland City councillors about proposed housing intensification threatening iconic view shafts from the Picton Street ridge.

Local fashion stores Valleygirl and sister company Temt have closed. Although the outlets at Botany Town Centre were opened as usual this morning with next to no stock in the stores, by 1pm they were both shut. A sign in both shops reads: “Valleygirl New Zealand Limited was placed into receivership on 26 July 2016 and this store has now closed.”...

Gayleen Mackereth, who has spear-headed a fight for Howick in Auckland Unitary Plan hearings over the past few months, is pleased to have “protected our precious Howick”.

Darren Blomfield's cartoon takes a look at the Mellons Bay infrastructure. Locals were this week venting about sub-standard broadband installations by infrastructure provider Chorus in Mellons Bay. Complaints include use of electrical tape and duct tape on fibre cabling, and running of cable along fencing.