New ZealandProtester's plea to ministerA hunger striker on his 27th day without food has written an open letter to Social Development Minister Paula Bennett pleading with her to stop "stalling policies" on food grants.09 Oct 04:30 PM
New ZealandGovt eyes school-food aidFood programmes for hungry Kiwi schoolchildren may soon get a boost from the Government to top off an overwhelming public response to recent media appeals.05 Oct 04:30 PM
New ZealandResidents asked to billet homelessAs Wellington tries to find creative solutions to its housing problem, city residents are being called on to offer their spare rooms to the homeless.04 Oct 08:23 PM
New ZealandHunger striker hopes to meet BennettDisabled hunger striker Sam Kuha is hoping to meet Social Development Minister Paula Bennett in Auckland tomorrow.03 Oct 09:56 PM
OpinionTapu MisaTapu Misa: Still searching for right way to help poor kidsGood teachers matter, but the problem with conflating education and poverty is that the focus can narrow unhelpfully on one piece of the puzzle, writes Tapu Misa.30 Sep 04:30 PM
New Zealand$1 meals boost kids' healthA Putaruru school serving up compulsory breakfasts and hot lunches for just $1 a meal says the benefits are showing in students' dental records.25 Sep 05:30 PM
OpinionGareth Morgan: Benefit tightening won't reduce unemploymentGareth Morgan says the Social Security Amendment Bill could be the "most irrelevant sideshow" in the circus that is tighter targeting of social benefits.23 Sep 09:30 PM
New ZealandBenefit tests only for the most at riskSocial Development Minister Paula Bennett has admitted the Government does not have the resources to test all beneficiaries under tough new welfare reforms.23 Sep 05:30 PM
New ZealandChildren go hungry amid plentyA quarter of primary and intermediate pupils in poorer Waikato areas go to school hungry, researchers have found.20 Sep 05:30 PM
New ZealandTeen welfare hard, some sayTeens among the first "guinea pigs" for a new money management system for welfare say they get enough for food - but not for transport, baby supplies and medical costs.20 Sep 05:30 PM
New ZealandWelfare reforms pass first readingThe bill pushing ahead with the Government's second wave of welfare reforms passed its first reading in Parliament today.20 Sep 07:19 AM
New ZealandHammer attack on Winz officeA disgruntled disabled Work and Income client allegedly smashed two windows at the department's Kaikohe office with a hammer.18 Sep 11:04 PM
New Zealand'The jobs just are not there'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.18 Sep 05:30 PM
New ZealandEx-MP arrested at protestFormer MP Sue Bradford and four others will appear in court on Friday after a protest action at the Ministry of Social Development's Auckland regional office today.18 Sep 06:27 AM
New ZealandReforms target benefit 'trap'The Government's latest welfare reforms will help get people out of the "trap" of benefit dependency, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says.17 Sep 10:31 PM
New Zealand'One strike' rule for beneficiariesSecond bill in welfare reform cancels payments for those who refuse offer of 'suitable' job.17 Sep 05:30 PM
New ZealandWelfare reforms introducedLegislation 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.17 Sep 06:04 AM
OpinionEditorial: Compulsory pre-school a boon for allEditorial: Early education has not been a priority for this Government. But having made it compulsory for beneficiaries National will find it hard to argue against wider compulsion.12 Sep 05:30 PM
New ZealandBenefit ‘no excuse for hard line’The Finance Minister denies the Government will use a $78 billion valuation of the lifelong cost of benefits as an excuse to get the public to buy into a harder line on welfare.12 Sep 05:30 PM
OpinionBennett out-nannies LabourDr Andrew Cardow says Paula Bennett appears to be working under the belief that beneficiaries do not have the wherewithal to decide what is best for their children.12 Sep 05:30 PM
New ZealandFear over beneficiary child changesEarly childhood experts are in shock after a government decision to make education compulsory from the age of 3 for children of welfare beneficiaries.11 Sep 05:30 PM
OpinionBreakfast is not too much to askEditorial: A simple breakfast is not much to ask and should be provided for all children who need it. But if it is to be public funded, the food should be distributed by agencies that know a community.10 Sep 05:28 PM
OpinionVote now: Should beneficiaries be drug tested?Drug testing of beneficiaries comes in next year, with penalties for those who fail. What's your view on the government's policy?05 Sep 01:41 AM
