Police are worried by a rise in underage prostitution in downtown Auckland, where girls as young as 12 are selling themselves for sex.

Police say increasing numbers of girls as young as 12 are working as prostitutes in Auckland's city centre.

The son of a Destiny Church pastor has been charged with indecently assaulting a 13-year-old girl, who was placed in the care of a churchgoer by an organisation run by his mother.

The mother of a baby girl who died after being found face down in a bath was regularly visited by Child Youth and Family.

A panel of experts has recommended an alert system for all abusive mothers so officials know when they have more children.

A CYF's spokesman defends a children's play which included swearing and one character who spoke of losing her virginity.

Preventing two-year-olds witnessing family violence is at the heart of a new First Response pilot launched today.

Almost 1800 children whose abuse or neglect was detected by social workers last year were re-abused within six months.

A 4-month-old baby boy in a critical but stable condition in the Starship hospital is known to Child, Youth and Family.