Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is "a big fan" of long acting contraception for solo mums but says her Government is "not quite" at the stage of making it compulsory.

John Key says proposed reforms of the welfare sector will be rolled out in the lead up to the general election, and he says the system should make it clear that people must support themselves if they can.

When you have children, your whole life changes and you must try to defend your child from harm no matter what.

Health training funds are being redirected into mental health.

Job-hunters desperate to find part-time work are applying in their hundreds for vacancies that pay less than minimum wage.

A new Govt package will give subsidies to employers who agree to train a young person and give them a permanent job.

Child abuse complaints have more than tripled in Rotorua, Whakatane and Taupo in the past five years.

New Zealand's biggest benefit fraudster, is accusing authorities of 'legalised theft'.

MP Paula Bennett is the first of the Beehive's power brokers to step out of their comfort zone - in her case, feeding the needy at a city mission - for the new series Make Your Politician Work. By Bevan Hurley.

A 14-month-old girl has died at the hands of her mother, who was seeking help for substance abuse.