The Salvation Army's annual stocktake on New Zealand's social health has earned high credibility. It owes this to its recognition of progress as well as problems.

A number of businesses have stepped in to help the Salvation Army after one of its centres was vandalised.

The Sallies are absolutely right to request that donations be pristine and new because there are some people in our community who are truly evil, Kerre writes.

Kiwi families searching for help this Christmas may be left with empty stockings for their kids if Kmart's Wishing Tree appeal falls short.

The Government has agreed to fund an extra 508 social housing units in Auckland in a surprise boost to previously announced policies.

Growing numbers of Kiwis risk becoming homeless in old age because of falling home ownership rates, rising rents and static housing subsidies, the Salvation Army says.

Salvation Army volunteers are bracing themselves for a bumper Christmas - of assistance to families facing a struggle to keep afloat through the season of goodwill.

A long-term contract to inspect all state houses for potential risks to health and safety was axed the year before two Auckland tenants died last winter.

A former head of the Rotorua Salvation Army has admitted a charge of unlawfully behaving in an offensive manner.

If the likes of the Salvation Army cannot afford to buy cut-price state houses, it seems improbable that any other social services agency is in a position to do so.

This week, Finance Minister Bill English was dealt a blow by the Salvation Army, which rejected his suggestion it buy Housing New Zealand stock.

A 78-year-old Westport man has been further remanded on bail to appear in the Greymouth District Court in June on charges related to historic sex offending.

The Salvation Army says it felt pressured into carrying out expensive, time-consuming research on buying unwanted state houses because the Government repeatedly referred to the charity as a likely buyer.

Bill English says he is not surprised that the Salvation Army has decided against buying state houses from the Government.

The Salvation Army has decided against buying state homes off the Government, a blow the Labour Party says is "hugely embarrassing".

The dress that divided the internet with millions debating its colours has been adopted by the Salvation Army for the focus of its latest anti-domestic violence campaign.

100 low-income families were asked what they needed to get out of poverty. Here are their answers.

A young mother and her newborn baby lived in a car for two days after finding themselves homeless when they were discharged from hospital.

A New Zealander who has come home after heading the Salvation Army in Pakistan says prohibition never works, but more restrictions can reduce the harm from drugs and alcohol.

Pacific broadcaster Fa'amatuainu Tino Pereira was the sole non-bureaucrat on a panel that evaluated bids in a controversial tender that axed most of the Problem Gambling Foundation's funding.

Two of the six panel members who made the shock decision to stop funding the Problem Gambling Foundation had conflicts of interest, a review has found.

Simon Collins takes a look at the 'state of our nation' report, a stock-take of New Zealand's social trends.

Crime is at a 34-year low, incomes and employment are rising and teenage pregnancy has plunged, a new report on the state of our nation shows.

Christmas is meant to be a time of joy but many children around NZ go without. This year one dad has vowed to make a difference, pledging 100 gifts for kids.