Inequality in New Zealand is rising. This is a fact. Damien Grant looks into it.

New Zealand has been rated the fifth most prosperous nation to live in, according to an international report.

Men are closing life expectancy gap on women, and the concept of 'old' is due a rethink, says Peter Curson.

The Labour Party conference in Christchurch this weekend looks set to approve a remit that will require its list to "fairly represent" gays and lesbians among candidates.

Children's Commissioner Dr Russell Wills has decided to publish his own annual stocktake of child poverty after the Govt spurned his call to publish official measures and targets.

Researchers hunting for the next blockbuster heart drug say levels of enzyme activity checked in their study can help to predict a person's risk of coronary heart disease.

New Zealand is among the top 10 best places to be a woman, according to a worldwide report on gender equality.

A solo mother has had her benefit halved, just eight weeks after having a new baby, because she failed to attend an appointment with Work and Income.

Almost 13,000 parents with dependent children have had their benefits cut for failing work tests in the first 2 years after sole parents first had to look for work.

Editorial: A review of burial laws by the Law Commission has led to drastic and largely unnecessary recommendations.

Auctioning off domestic chores and starting an online donation site has helped two Auckland teens "pay it forward" to a charity that is taking them on the trip of a lifetime.

A trust that sold off a 100-year lease of Auckland's historic Ranfurly veterans' home has called in an outside expert to review the quality of care the veterans are now receiving.

A New Zealand church has been let off the hook for forbidding a gay man from becoming a priest.

Cartoonists moaned when Rowling became Prime Minister in 1974, being unable to caricature him.

Excited Barnardos workers have volunteered to fly in from around the country to staff collection stalls at Beyonce's Auckland concerts this week.

Ex-soldiers could soon get support for psychological issues as well as physical injuries under wide-ranging changes to war pensions.

New Zealand rightly prides itself on being a leader in women's rights. It was ranked sixth out of 135 countries in the Global Gender Gap report for 2011.

With Ten Guitars ringing in her ears a veteran publican recalls the six o'clock swill and drinkers' cunning lurks.

Children's Lego house competition puts focus on Habitat homes for needy families.

Being able to get one up on potential burglars is a good feeling, says Evan Lockington, a resident of Viscount St, Mangere.

Reduced growth figures suggest revision of Auckland's infrastructure plans needed, claims Statistics Minister.

New Zealand ranks seventh among 91 countries for its quality of life and wellbeing for older people, says the first Global AgeWatch Index.

Latest figures from the Ministry of Justice record another drop in the number of young people sentenced for crimes in the year to June.

Having put their collective feet up on the desk as they contemplate retirement, baby boomers have been overtaken by Gen Xer as the most productive generation.

The Privacy Commissioner has been consulted on the possibility of using identification numbers attached to preschoolers as a way to track and punish parents.

Gaming trusts would be forced to return more pokie machine profits to sports teams and community groups under proposed gambling reforms.

In the light of the latest step by churchgoers in Auckland to further align their money with their values, all investors are being challenged to think.