Will cities and districts get new a whole new set-up under National? Local Government Minister Rodney Hide, the Act leader, thought so.

As a NewsWire in-depth project team found out, the changes don’t look dramatic so far. But as the Super City transforms Auckland, unease remains in various quarters. Not least are businesspeople’s irritation with rising rates and Wellington stalwarts’ fear of being “super-sized” themselves.

Visit here for our local government in-depth coverage (by Amanda Kirby, Adam Gosney, Catherine McGregor and Lee Stace).