Successive governments have failed utterly to deal with child poverty but now is the perfect time for local Auckland communities to work together, writes Catriona MacLennan.

If child-support payments were made directly to the household, not the state, non-custodial parents would be more likely to meet their responsibilities.

Jonathan Boston exposes three popular 'myths' about the current levels of child poverty in New Zealand, including that it is all the fault of the parents involved.

Food programmes for hungry Kiwi schoolchildren may soon get a boost from the Government to top off an overwhelming public response to recent media appeals.

Disabled hunger striker Sam Kuha is hoping to meet Social Development Minister Paula Bennett in Auckland tomorrow.

More than 1400 New Zealanders attempted to make do with only $2.25 worth of food and drink for each of five days.

Sexual assaults by players and supporters in last year's Rugby World Cup helped set a new record for assaults on women reported to an Auckland sexual abuse service.

A Putaruru school serving up compulsory breakfasts and hot lunches for just $1 a meal says the benefits are showing in students' dental records.

Gareth Morgan says the Social Security Amendment Bill could be the "most irrelevant sideshow" in the circus that is tighter targeting of social benefits.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has admitted the Government does not have the resources to test all beneficiaries under tough new welfare reforms.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says she believes some parents do not need to enrol their children in early childhood education - but concedes her welfare reforms will force beneficiaries to do just that.

Monetary policy is always contentious when the dollar is high, and at the moment it is very high.

The bill pushing ahead with the Government's second wave of welfare reforms passed its first reading in Parliament today.

New Zealand's most popular sports have taken nearly $1 billion in gambling proceeds in the last seven years, records show.

Jack Daylight came to protest against welfare reform because he wants a job. He was arrested yesterday outside the Ministry of Social Development's office in Auckland.

The Government's latest welfare reforms will help get people out of the "trap" of benefit dependency, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says.

Second bill in welfare reform cancels payments for those who refuse offer of 'suitable' job.

Legislation introducing an "investment approach'' to welfare has been signed off by the Cabinet and will go before a select committee after its first reading in Parliament.

Anyone who can understand the difference between rape and lovemaking can understand the difference between killing and compassionate assistance to die, writes Ann David.

Cost should not be only driver of social policies; principles matter, too, writes Tapu Misa.

Kawerau has one of the country's highest proportion of beneficiaries, with 1725 of its 6921 residents receiving some kind of assistance.