Latest from Social Issues

Gang power struggle erupts in gunfire at reception

The wedding was a joyful affair, with 300 guests, traditional Serbian dancing and two dozen motorbikes bedecked with red, white and blue streamers.

Greed rules over being generous

Paying it forward - a popular expression for extending generosity to others after someone has been generous to you.

Record queues for Christmas food

Fuelled by the highest rate of unemployment in 13 years, the queues snaking along the pavements outside the Auckland City Mission have nothing festive about them.

Warning on safe sleeping

Parents around the country should be given consistent advice about safe sleeping practices with their newborns.

Peter Durney: Being a New Zealander opens door to life of privilege

This country offers me beaches and mountains and lakes to explore, with good roads and an adequate car, writes Peter Durney. Many people cannot even aspire to owning a car.

Editorial: Community trust good way to keep loan sharks at bay

Editorial: The Nga Tangata Microfinance Trust in South Auckland seems to be providing a less businesslike but no less welcome solution for some of the indebted poor in this country.

Zero-interest loans to help poor families

A group of Auckland charities have quietly started lending money at zero interest rates to low-income families in a pilot project which may drive loan sharks out.

$10,000 grant will help women dress for success

Women heading back into the workforce after a long break and worried they have nothing to wear to a job interview are getting a boost of confidence from the team at Dress for Success.

Peters denies he acted too hastily

Winston Peters has defended the expulsion of NZ First list MP Brendan Horan from the party.

Steps to cut rheumatic fever rate

Northland has the highest rates of rheumatic fever in the country and last week visiting US expert Dr Stanford Shulman met health professionals to help with solutions.

Kevin Tamati: Animal testing of drugs justified to save lives

Drug policy has to start from a base of logic, writes Kevin Tamati. "Peter Dunne has reasoned that it's the health consequences that provide a rationale."

Australian insurance excludes Kiwis

Tens of thousands of New Zealanders will be excluded from Australia's new national disability insurance scheme.

More beneficiaries paid to travel overseas under Labour - Bennett

Beneficiaries' overseas fares paid

Paula Bennett has admitted that Work and Income may have paid airfares for some beneficiaries to take up job offers in Australia.

Should the Govt act over the pay equity imbalance?

A campaign has been launched to demand equal pay for women after finding that, on average, men are paid at least 10 per cent more than women. Have your say here.

Guard in bearskin-turban swap

The first Sikh guardsman to be given permission to wear a turban instead of a bearskin while on duty outside Buckingham Palace is under pressure not to break tradition.