Latest from Social Issues

Most NZers would rather give up alcohol than sex - poll
Most New Zealanders would rather give up alcohol than forgo sex, but a fifth of women and a 10th of men would rather have a drink than a romp in the sack, according to a new poll.

Street art: Signatures of style
To some they're ugly scrawls that desecrate the urban landscape, to others they're street art. Paula Yeoman looks at the graffiti debate.

Drinks giant threatened to pull TVNZ account
Pernod Ricard threatened to pull its advertising from TVNZ after a vodka ad was placed alongside a story about a schoolboy who drank himself to death.

NZ world drug kingpin jailed
A Kiwi at the centre of an international drug ring has been jailed for over 11 years.

'Unsafe' newborn practice still being pushed
Parents of newborn babies are receiving conflicting messages about sleeping with their newborn babies.

<i>Dita de Boni</i>: A certain trainwreck
Sometimes, there's nothing more guaranteed to bring you down than reading the Sunday papers.

Top Green pushes need for capital gains tax
Russel Norman sees 'clean and green' as vital to country's future

<i>Your business:</i> Giving travellers a chance to help out
Voluntourism catching on with holidaymakers and companies.

New Zealand has work to do on gay rights
An attack on a Northland lesbian couple shows New Zealand still has work to do on gay rights, Chief Human Rights Commissioner Rosslyn Noonan says.

Abused girl's mother sought help from PM
The mother who has been accused of "horrific" abuse against her 9-year-old daughter wrote to the Prime Minister last year seeking help, it has been revealed.

Govt launches serious abuse inquiry
A CYF report into the care received by a girl who suffered "horrific" abuse at the hands of her parents has found no single glaring failure by any of the 12 state agencies involved. An independent inquiry has now been launched.

Concerns over police culture persist
While New Zealand Police have made significant progress on culture change, senior management lacks confidence to make bold moves toward change, according to a report issued today.

Lawyer for abuse accused objects to media's use of 'torture'
The West Auckland parents accusing of abusing their nine-year-old girl have appeared in court today.

A story worth telling
'This was my grandmother, a brilliant and much-loved woman. The story of the final 10 years of her life reveals a shocking truth about how Britain treats its old people.'