Police are considering trying to ban gang patches in New Brighton, Christchurch, after a flare up between gang members and ongoing intimidation.

Following the second reading of my marriage bill last week, there has been a concentrated move from those opposed to my bill to argue that it will "enable gay adoption.

A flying-fox and a lollipop shop were among the first items suggested when the children of Taurus Cres were asked what they wanted in their local park.

Child poverty is not a party political issue; it is a moral and ethical issue, writes Susan St John. "It may have been possible some time ago to bury our heads in the sand and ignore the prevalence of child poverty in NZ."

Welfare benefits will go up by just 0.61 per cent from April 1 because the Government has decided not to give beneficiaries any compensation for higher cigarette prices.

Sweeping changes to the welfare system came closer to passing into law.

Pregnant women and mothers returning to work from maternity leave are facing illegal discrimination and losing their jobs.

A Henderson tofu maker has become the first Auckland employer to sign up to the living wage campaign, promising to pay its six factory workers at least $18.40 an hour within a year.

Two-storey townhouses and stand-alone houses expected to sell from $400,000 to $700,000 have been unveiled in the first stage of redeveloping 156 Housing NZ sites in Glen Innes.

The mother of tortured Rotorua three-year-old Nia Glassie has been denied parole, with the board saying she remained an undue risk to the community.

Opponents of same-sex marriage are being slammed for distributing leaflets saying legalising the move will result in more incidences of AIDS and syphilis, and see the end of titles such as "husband and wife".

A banned poker machine addict slipped through all SkyCity's safety systems to play his way to VIP status in the casino's high-roller room - blowing $500,000 in the process.

Church leaders are making a last-minute appeal to MPs to protect teachers who believe marriage should only be between opposite sexes even if Louisa Wall's gay marriage bill is passed tomorrow.

"Haven't our common concerns bound us more closely together?" asks David Hill. "Both our cricket teams have been thrashed by India."

A UN body's list of concerns shows how much women are being disadvantaged in NZ, writes Debbie Hager.

Let's look at the facts, writes Alan Freeth. Today, a quarter of children live in poverty in New Zealand.

Simon Chapman says Big Tobacco is losing ground on plain packs but is homing in on less fortunate countries.

There is a lot of hype surrounding the push for gay marriage in NZ, writes Douglas Pratt. Expectations of a momentous change are high.

The challenge for those in this discussion is to acknowledge and respect the values of others and to be courageous and generous in love, writes Russell Hoban.

Religion has always sought to manipulate and dictate the manner in which individuals live their lives, writes Sam Clements. The Marriage Equality Bill threatens many in the church.

The gambling-charity boss overseeing pokies in pubs and bars has launched a blistering attack on the problem-gambling industry.

Charities have started providing bandages and dressings for children with skin infections in poor parts of Northland and South Auckland because government funding is not enough to meet the need.

Editorial: After a number of incidents that shook public confidence, the rebuilding of the reputation of the police has not always proceeded with total smoothness.

On Monday the Financial Services Council released a report called "Exploring Underinsurance within New Zealand".