Latest from Social Issues

Amy Winehouse died after 'Ecstasy binge' (+ photos, video)
Amy Winehouse reportedly died in her Camden home after wild drinking sessions and an Ecstasy binge.

Our hungry kids: 40,000 NZ kids fed by charities
School principals say the number of pupils turning up for breakfast is increasing daily, despite the collapse of one of the two main breakfast programmes...

Red-flag plan for at-risk children
A "red flag" identifying at-risk children for schools, doctors and police is expected to be floated by the Government.

UK hatchet man faces protest by poverty group
The architect of tough benefit reforms in Britain will face a picket by Sue Bradford's Auckland Action Against Poverty.

Making sense of the evil women do to other women
The Independent's Yasmin Alibhai-Brown on the shocking realities of human trafficking.

<i>Shelley Bridgeman:</i> Off the record
Mihingarangi Forbes' television interview with Alasdair Thompson raised an interesting issue.

Women call for ban on 'sexist' drink can messages
A call to ban energy drink cans featuring overt sexual messages has been made by the National Council of Women.

Locals baffled by woman's bond with hostage-taker
People in the quiet seaside town of Opunake always wondered how a "lovely, kind and beautiful...

Inmate wins payout for hurt feelings
A notorious NZ criminal has been awarded compensation for breach of privacy and hurt feelings.

Siege gunman a repeat offender
The man shot dead by police yesterday had just got out of jail for trying to cut the throat of the woman he held hostage.

<i>Shelley Bridgeman:</i> Sex difference dilemma
There's a perennial debate as to whether certain sex differences in children are innate or learned.

Garth George: Smoke ban won't set inmates free
Smoking - like overeating - can't be stopped merely by the will of authority.