The Independent's Alice Jones wonders why there are so few rules governing the distortion of images in the media.

NZ should hope John Key shows some common sense - tempered with heart - when he goes about trying to reduce from 328,000 the number of Kiwis on solo parent, sickness and invalid benefits, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

A new academic study shoots holes in the theory that you have to be an extravert to be a good leader.

They cross the road when they see my mother coming. The neighbours shuffle quickly back inside, as though scared it might be contagious. A hundred bunches of flowers are turning slowly brown inside the house, but the phone stays stubbornly silent.

Those working in the 'legal highs' industry believe banning certain products will only lead to the creation of new ones. Urgent legislation before Parliament today will allow all 43 current synthetic cannabis products to be withdrawn from sale.

Kronic and other synthetic cannabis will be pulled from New Zealand shelves within weeks - but...

It is a measure of how subdued is the national mood and how modest are our current ambitions that we expect so little of our elected governments.

Many readers will have been taken aback this week by revelations in the Herald series on the number of children turning up at schools hungry each day.

A report on tackling child abuse is a step in the right direction but its focus on the most vulnerable ignores the needs of every child, Labour says.

Child welfare advocates have called for "tough conversations" on the contents of a long-awaited paper on reducing NZ's shocking child abuse rate. The 'Green Paper on Vulnerable Children', was launched in Auckland today.

Sharing food across the wider whanau is the only way Papakura's Peawini family keeps food on the table.