Good policies require good information, not prejudices and ill-informed judgments expressed from the sideline, writes Michael O'Brien.

"Paula Bennett is right when she says poverty isn't an excuse for child abuse," writes Tapu Misa. "There is no excuse for child abuse."

Successive governments have failed utterly to deal with child poverty but now is the perfect time for local Auckland communities to work together, writes Catriona MacLennan.

If child-support payments were made directly to the household, not the state, non-custodial parents would be more likely to meet their responsibilities.

Most of us hate talking about poverty. Last week the media swooned over a fundraising campaign by Kiwis who tried to live on a couple of bucks a day, now Matt McCarten gives his view.

Food programmes for hungry Kiwi schoolchildren may soon get a boost from the Government to top off an overwhelming public response to recent media appeals.

Good teachers matter, but the problem with conflating education and poverty is that the focus can narrow unhelpfully on one piece of the puzzle, writes Tapu Misa.

More than 1400 New Zealanders attempted to make do with only $2.25 worth of food and drink for each of five days.

A Putaruru school serving up compulsory breakfasts and hot lunches for just $1 a meal says the benefits are showing in students' dental records.

Former MP Sue Bradford and four others will appear in court on Friday after a protest action at the Ministry of Social Development's Auckland regional office today.

Cost should not be only driver of social policies; principles matter, too, writes Tapu Misa.

Phil O'Reilly says attacking the issue of child poverty from many directions, by everyone, has a greater chance of succeeding than simply focusing on benefit payments.

The Herald continues its series looking at our changing National identity. Today, those aged 20 - 39, the children of Rogernomics.

Editorial: A simple breakfast is not much to ask and should be provided for all children who need it. But if it is to be public funded, the food should be distributed by agencies that know a community.