A run down on some of the Valentine's Day campaigns out and about today.

Auckland Council has approved retail giant Westfield’s proposed expansion of St Lukes that will see the mall double in size.

It wants to expand from 46,832sq m to 92,500sq m.

The mall, last renovated in 2004, now has 191 retailers. The planning expansion includes a landscaped strip along the road boundary with trees and scrubs, and 30% of the upper levels being balconies and glazing.

However the proposal has a long way to go before construction can start.

The 12 New Zealand shopping malls owned by Australian company Westfield have declined in value to $NZ2.88 billion as at December 31, from $3 billion at the same time last year.

The company started by immigrant Frank Lowy in the western suburbs of Sydney in the 1950s today reported operating earnings of $A2.064 billion ($NZ2.63 billion) in the year to December 31.

Westfield retail group enters the first round of hearings with North Shore City Council today for approval to double the space of its Albany mall as part of its $500 million 10 year growth plan.

The shopping centre land is more than 20ha in total, and the portion which it is proposing to start works on soon is 4.5ha of the site.

A new street would be required to link it with nearby Civic Crescent, giving access to the parking building is part of Westfield’s proposal.