WATCH: Families are facing a bleak Christmas in cramped motel rooms that are costing taxpayers thousands of dollars each week.

The new State Services Commissioner was once one of the highest paid public servants but is now promising a "conservative approach" to pay rises for chief executives.

Critics have slammed the Ministry of Social Development for rejecting a clause to establish special family violence leave saying they were "disappointed" and "saddened" by the decision.

Prosecution prompted by double murder in Ashburton Winz office sees Ministry of Social Development convicted for failing to protect its staff.

The Ministry of Social Development is awaiting sentencing on breach of health and safety legislation after the 2014 Ashburton Work and Income office killings.

Prime Minister John Key is resisting growing pressure to further investigate historical child abuse in state care.

COMMENT: Note to Minister of Social Development Anne Tolley: Try stopping being a politician for a minute, and just listen.

A prominent judge has come out swinging after Social Development Minister Anne Tolley ruled out apologising for the abuse of children

Almost 80 children have died in the care of the New Zealand state in the past 15 years - an average of five a year.

Are the National Government and Murray McCully guilty of corruption? The official verdict is now in, but not everyone agrees.

Are you angry about the widening gap between rich and poor? Or are you sceptical about the stats?

South African-owned insurer Youi NZ expects to pay a $350,000 fine for breaking the law with misleading sales tactics.

The new Vulnerable Children's Ministry wants to recruit 1000 more foster parents in a dramatic bid to improve the quality of state care for children.

Young people in state care will soon have a right to stay in or return to care until they turn 21.

Government denies that new rules requiring community agencies to share basic client data with the Government for funding amount to "surveillance".

Women's refuges, church agencies and other community groups will soon have to hand over their client details to the Government in

Budgeting agencies are "in shock" after a radical shakeup which has ended state funding for a third of all previously funded budget

COMMENT: Recent cases indicate violence between and against children is widely accepted.

Minister Anne Tolley says the UN Rights of the Child committee in Geneva asked her 250 questions but only one on child poverty.

With gangs deeply ingrained in Hawke's Bay, a new government initiative to steer youth away from them could provide lasting benefit

Vulnerable children will be placed in foster care more quickly, and their foster parents will get more flexible pay, under law changes outlined today.

COMMENT: The rewrite of the Social Security Act is a good time to abolish the sanctions altogether.

Housing NZ has bought a motel to help meet the area's housing shortage - but the existing residents will have to move out to make room for the homeless.

A brief liaison with a man she didn't know cost a young Auckland woman $28 a week off her benefit for two years.

The Ministry of Social Development may have to pay millions to make Work and Income offices safer for staff.

A convicted fraudster and "bachelorette" who hoped to steal Art Green's heart has admitted ripping off taxpayers for more than $20,000.

A new study by Victoria University student Alicia Sudden says Work and Income is pushing many beneficiaries into jobs that don't last.

Beneficiaries received more than $120 million in advance benefit payments last year for essential costs such as schooling and health care.

The Ministry of Health has defended its stance on refusing to fund a Maori safe-sleeping device.

At least 2 per cent of Housing New Zealand tenants are not eligible to live in a state house.