Peter Milne has one question for a government advisory group that wants more beneficiaries to have to look for work: Where are the jobs?

The Government won't consider reductions to main benefit levels including the sickness, invalid's, unemployment and domestic purposes benefits as part of any welfare overhaul recommended by the Welfare Working Group tomorrow.

Secure job, training, no student loan, chance to see the world, how could any parent object?

About 300,000 welfare beneficiaries who are judged capable of work will face a day of reckoning tomorrow with the release of a report.

John Key has been accused of being disconnected after saying that beneficiaries who resort to food banks do so out of their own "poor choices".

John Key says beneficiaries who resort to food banks do so out of their own "poor choices" rather than because they cannot afford food.

These days, there are other 'f words' causing issues - Facebook, free speech and fidelity.

I don't mind admitting that I know Miley Cyrus sings a song called 'The climb'.

It has been a very strong start to the year, says recruitment company director Kate Ross.

John Key says people should not lose confidence in the job market despite this morning's increase in the unemployment rate.

New Zealand's jobless rate has unexpectedly widened to 6.8 per cent, sparking a sell-off in the kiwi dollar which dropped as much as half a cent.

Salary and wage rates, including overtime, grew 1.7 per cent in the year to the December quarter, says Statistics New Zealand.