Thousands of New Zealand parents are going back to school to learn how to be better parents - but experts still do not know if the multiple programmes are reaching the parents who most need them.

Auckland couple Jo Denvir and Daniel Nixon have been waiting three years for the adoption doors to Russia to reopen.

Waitemata police are praising the actions of a nine-year-old Devonport girl raising money to help a victim of horrific child abuse.

A girl, 9, allegedly tortured and abused by her parents will spend Christmas with a new foster family.

A couple accused of torturing their nine-year-old daughter appeared briefly in court this morning.

New claims emerged last night that the nine-year-old girl allegedly tortured by her parents was also sexually abused while in Child Youth and Family care.

Beneficiaries owe the Ministry of Social Development nearly $1 billion and about half of it is because of overpayments, official figures show.

NZTA cleared its registry of deceased licence holders, only to have 23 inform it they were still alive.

About 36pc of first-time mothers, and 13pc of mothers who already had older children, were not aware of the Working For Families tax credits.

The ACC will ensure money is the least of the worries for the families of the Pike River 29, says ACC Minister Nick Smith.