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.

A CYF's manager regrets telling staff they are Paula Bennett's "servants". "The servant knows their place", the manager wrote.

A Wellington solo father says he went to CYFS for help - and ended up with a conviction for smacking his daughter.

In our smacking investigation, we speak to a family traumatised after CYFS investigated a smack.