A crackdown on beggars in Auckland has the support of police, who believe it could reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

A Whangarei grandmother has slammed Child, Youth and Family (CYF) for dumping her two young nephews at her doorstep without providing enough money to look after them.

The number of international child abduction cases before New Zealand courts is soaring, as the cost of court action forces desperate parents to go on the run.

Paul Little says the rage with which commentators reacted to the KickStart breakfast programme provided delectable examples of hysteria.

A food-in-schools programme that dramatically improved children's attendance and behaviour in South Auckland is moving to help Glen Innes children in the east of the city.

I'll never forget the first time Steve Farrelly crossed my path. To be fair, I was warned. "You're about to meet my client," said my husband. "He's, erm ... pretty unique."

Why stop at giving kids breakfast, when there are bigger issues - like getting them through the school gate, writes Dita De Boni

The KidsCan charity plans to use money from the child poverty plan announced this week to plug holes in health services.

Kiwi Helen Steemson saw Sri Lanka up close when she joined Habitat for Humanity.

Income-related rental subsidies look set to be extended in tomorrow's Budget to tenants in community-owned housing.

Tomorrow's Budget will contain practical measures to tackle poverty, says Finance Minister Bill English.

The number of hungry people seeking food at night in my diocese has doubled in the past two months, writes Bishop Denis Browne.

Ben Affleck is planning to live on $1.50 a day.

New Zealand's infant mortality rate has fallen to 4.2 in the latest Statistics NZ figures for 2012.

Minister says Housing NZ stock needs work before it can impose conditions on private landlords

About 270,000 Kiwi children live in poverty, according to a report by the Children's Commissioner last month.

Tourists say a rogue operator promised them visits to farms, geyser parks and buffet dinners - but instead took them to free events.

New Zealand has been ranked one of the world's best countries to be born in this year. Researchers named New Zealand the seventh most lucky nation in which to start life.

Dame Wendy Pye will turn 70 next year but is still getting up at 4.30am to field international calls, travelling across the world to expand her publishing business and "beating the drum" for children's literacy.

For more than three months he remained an unknown young African whose fatal decision to seek a better life in Europe ended with an 800m drop.

A Christmas story from an associate, who was in a Salvation Army op shop when a family - mum, dad, and three children - stopped by to drop off a new bike.

Fuelled by the highest rate of unemployment in 13 years, the queues snaking along the pavements outside the Auckland City Mission have nothing festive about them.

Editorial: The Nga Tangata Microfinance Trust in South Auckland seems to be providing a less businesslike but no less welcome solution for some of the indebted poor in this country.