Latest from Social Issues

Beware the treachery of the cynically altered image

<I>The Independent</I>'s Alice Jones wonders why there are so few rules governing the distortion of images in the media.

Study: Quarter of NZ kids in poverty

Deborah Coddington: Selfish tax cheats would destroy us with their debt

China tops list for National Party conference

Fran O'Sullivan: Look out for the kids when you swing that axe, Mr Key

NZ should hope John Key shows some common sense - tempered with heart - when he goes about trying to reduce from 328,000 the number of Kiwis on solo parent, sickness and invalid benefits, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Rhodri Marsden: Loving your smartphone is only human

Hide's 'Taxpayers Rights Bill' not expected to pass

Garth George: Political claptrap skirts real solutions to child abuse

Greens have plan to get children out of poverty

Investment hit closes gap between NZ rich and poor

A sister's tale: What happens when a family member ends it all

They cross the road when they see my mother coming. The neighbours shuffle quickly back inside, as though scared it might be contagious. A hundred bunches of flowers are turning slowly brown inside the house, but the phone stays stubbornly silent.

<i>Scott Kara:</i> Teens packing knives

You can see why a knife is such a popular weapon among the kids these days.

Should the Govt go further and ban all party pills and other 'legal highs'?

Claim fake cannabis ban won't work

Those working in the 'legal highs' industry believe banning certain products will only lead to the creation of new ones. Urgent legislation before Parliament today will allow all 43 current synthetic cannabis products to be withdrawn from sale.

Dunne's law puts block on synthetic cannabis

Kronic and other synthetic cannabis will be pulled from New Zealand shelves within weeks - but...

Bryan Gould: An outcome no political salesman can disguise

It is a measure of how subdued is the national mood and how modest are our current ambitions that we expect so little of our elected governments.