Unemployment benefit rolls have dropped to a seven-year low in Auckland, but are now rising again in 10 of New Zealand's 14 other regions.

A highly regarded Pacific anti-violence agency has been closed down amidst concerns about using taxpayers' money to fund an ambition to "go global".

Hidden homelessness campaigners are scratching out messages of housing desperation the old-school way.

Fixing child abuse and neglect is all about building relationships with families in need, social workers say.

All sex offenders and certain high-risk violent criminals could be included on a register being set up to cover child-sex offenders.

A staffer working for Child, Youth and Family started a sexual relationship with a boy in the teen unit where she worked.

A bouncer who was told she was "worthless" and threatened with gang action from two WINZ workers says dealing with verbally abusive customers has become commonplace.

But bar owner says the two Ministry of Social Development workers who abused his staff won't be welcome back.

Better sharing of information between state agencies may have prevented the death of a child in a poorly-maintained state house, says Social Development Minister Anne Tolley.

Tupua Urlich was just 17 when the state ended its care for him.

A spend of more than $360,000 on pay television subscriptions by Government departments has been criticised by Labour.

Some agencies are expected to close in a radical revamp of social service funding unveiled by Social Development Minister Anne Tolley.

An extra 3000 tenants will be entitled to the income-related rent subsidy under changes outlined in the Budget.

The income gap between children and the elderly has widened faster in New Zealand than in other developed countries during the recent recession, a new report shows.

More than 860 victims who were abused while in state care have been given the option of a fast-track settlement.

Hine felt the centre was not a good fit for her son, and that they didn't understand her culture. Her boy would cry every day when she dropped him off.

Sexual violence survivor advocate Dr Kim McGregor has resigned from the agency because its board has decided to narrow its focus.

The tragic events in the Winz office in Ashburton last September have resulted in action before the Courts. The obvious being the alleged offender facing multiple criminal charges, including murder.

Victims of the Ashburton Winz shooting and their families could be in line to receive payouts after one Crown agency prosecuted another.

If you want a state house with a view, forget it. Beautiful views are banned in a draft new Government policy. Double garages and decks are out, too.

An Auckland man could end up swapping his job at the Ministry of Social Development for a one-way ticket to Mars.

A review of security at the Ministry of Social Development, prompted by last year's deadly shooting at the Ashburton Work and Income office, has found tighter security would not have prevented the incident.

A tough new policy cracking down on beneficiaries with unresolved arrest warrants has resulted in the issuing of thousands of alerts.

The ten largest amounts of wrongly acquired benefits totaled more than $2.14m last year - but advocates say most of the $23 billion paid out was genuinely needed.

The number of core public servants has fallen well below the Government’s cap.

The Families Commission is rebranding today taking a name which almost identical to that of a French supermarket chain.

Convicted murderer and paedophile Phillip John Smith swindled thousands of dollars from the taxpayer, using false documents when studying in prison.