Increasing numbers of children have been physically and emotionally abused in the past few years - starkly contradicting welfare officials' claims.

Peaches Geldof could face a criminal investigation after she named two women who allowed their babies to be abused by disgraced rock star Ian Watkins.

Paedophile and Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins sexually abused hundreds of young victims during years of secret drug-fuelled debauchery, his ex-girlfriend has warned.

A group of us went up to Kerikeri last weekend to run the Kerikeri Half Marathon.

NZ's child abuse rates are higher than anyone ever realised, officials admit, after bureaucrats bungled the numbers for more than two years.

British PM pledges intelligence services to probe `dark net' following internet giants' move.

A major inquiry into children's health and child abuse in NZ has made bold recommendations, including a new target to ensure pregnant women have an early check-up.

Enlisting the help of a computer-generated 10-year-old Philippine girl, Dutch children's rights activists turned online sex predators into their prey.

A baby girl was forced to live hidden in the boot of her mother's car for as long as two years in a case that has appalled France.

A man who admitted murdering one of his newborn triplets and wounding another is facing life in prison, but has been granted bail.

Thomas McGregor, father of 2-month-old triplet Hinekawa Topia who died in January last year, has admitted murdering her.

A child bitten by her teacher, teachers smacking children and staff smoking near pupils were among almost 250 complaints - including abuse and neglect - at early childhood education centres reported last year.

Former residents of a home for troubled kids have launched a $500,000 lawsuit against the Govt for claims of physical and sexual abuse.

Police have charged a woman with attempted murder after a 3-week-old baby was critically injured in Invercargill last week.

Australian artist Rolf Harris's portrait of Queen Elizabeth is reportedly in art limbo, with no-one confirming its whereabouts.

The hospital care received by an Invercargill mother just a day before her baby girl suffered critical injuries is under review.

The 3-week-old baby left fighting for its life after a violent incident at her Invercargill home was so badly injured that a policeman had to drive the ambulance to hospital.

A 3-week-old baby left fighting for its life after a violent incident in Invercargill this morning has been transferred to Starship Children's Hospital in Auckland.

A Catholic nun has been ordered to undergo anger management counselling after breaking a child's arm when the 9-year-old did not follow instructions at Sunday school.

Paedophile teacher James Parker's case was described as the worst of its kind in New Zealand history, so why did he get a minimum non-parole period of only seven years?

A member of the Kaitaia Child Protection Team has defended the action police took in 2009 when an allegation was first made about James Parker sexually assaulting boys.

James Parker subjected 24 young boys to prolonged and depraved abuse.

James Parker "stoutly denied" any wrongdoing during a 2009 police interview when a boy complained he had been sexually abused by the former deputy school principal.

Paedophile school teacher James Parker has been sentenced to preventive detention in an emotionally-charged sentencing before his victims.