Treatment of autistic man Ashley Peacock raised in Amnesty International report on human rights concerns.

COMMENT: The mayors of New Zealand's three most impoverished districts have asked the Prime Minister to establish "demarcation zones".

More than 2800 needy children are already being sponsored by the charity Variety's Kiwi Kids scheme, launched in 2013, and a further 600 are on its waiting list.

Students at Papakura High School are striving to change the community's perception of their school, one of the country's most disadvantaged.

Learn more about The Rising Foundation, a charity helping students from schools like those in Under The Bridge, the Herald's documentary project.

Papakura High School has a falling roll, and as far as results go, it's among the worst schools in the country. But there is hope.

In this video, school staff including principal John Rohs discuss the impact of a variety of social issues on the students.

A team of journalists spent a year inside one of the country's most underprivileged schools filming the Herald's first long-form documentary.

NZ is heading "off the track" on housing, child poverty and imprisonment despite dramatic gains on some other social indicators, a new report says.

Ruthless, reckless and surging rage: a mother details the struggle of looking after the severely autistic daughter she later killed.

Child poverty is a multi-headed beast, writes Rachel Smalley. She tells of a visit to the emergency department and an agitated mother waiting for help.

These are the high points from Labour and Greens' State of the Nation speeches this afternoon.

COMMENT: The epic scale of political conflict in the US risks making New Zealand's problems seem trivial, Liam Dann writes.

COMMENT: The only way to achieve high standard of early education will be through Govt restoring per-child subsidies to adequate levels.

COMMENT: Oxfam tells us that the world's richest eight people have as much money as its 3.6 billion poorest people. But what does it really mean?

His comments drew a sharp reaction from beggars in central Auckland yesterday.

Pregnant women living on the streets of Auckland.

COMMENT: If New Zealand was to have a statue at the entrance to Auckland or Wellington harbour, it would likely be a "Statue of Equality" rather than liberty.

COMMENT: I reckon a little less spent on self, and more on others is the better Christmas spirit. Maybe that's a New Year resolution.

Steve Braunias looks back on a year of thinking dangerously.

COMMENT: Every family is divided into richer and poorer members simply because some people are luckier or more talented and hard-working than others.

WATCH: Unitec preschool kids bring donations and some much-needed cheer to the Auckland City Mission.

Preschool children are heading to the Auckland City Mission to help out the people who need a bit of extra support this Christmas.

WATCH: Families are facing a bleak Christmas in cramped motel rooms that are costing taxpayers thousands of dollars each week.

This week, the Herald and Herald Focus are profiling struggling families who have lined up for parcels or food at Auckland's City Mission.

Anthony Hill-Tamihana, who has been struggling to find a job, needs City Mission's help this year to give his sons and wife a "nice" Christmas.

Mother-of-three Trish Kaiawe suddenly needed City Mission's help after quitting her job to have a baby a year ago.

Trisha, a mother-of-three has come to the Auckland City Mission to help ease the stress of Christmas this year.

Tristram visits the Auckland City Mission to learn about the 2016 child poverty monitor and it's shocking results. The Auckland City Mission are also handing out food and christmas gifts to those who need it. Children's commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft and Auckland City Missioner Chris Farrelly share their views on the findings.

Countdown, the Salvation Army and the NZ Dance Company are putting on a show, Trolley's. Creating awareness for the food rescue program which is helping kiwis in need, this festive season.