Latest fromSocial Issues

Sweet new drinks can kill kids, says expert
Alcohol experts are warning parents to keep their children away from cheap, sweetly flavoured drinks laced with enough alcohol to kill them.

Wow! - economists reel at jobless stats fall
Economists are surprised at the massive drop in unemployment stats released today, with the rate dropping from 7.1pc to 6pc in the March quarter.

Domesticity appeals to a new generation of women
Whether it's a backlash against the feminist movement of the 1970s or a natural progression into making the most of choices, statistics show that an increasing amount of women - and men - would choose home over full-time work.

Never let young watch TV: experts
Young children should not watch any TV because it sets them up for obesity and poor academic performance at school, say experts.

Watching TV 'makes toddlers less intelligent'
Parents, beware: watching television makes toddlers fatter and stupider at primary school, according to new research.

Crowds across US demand immigrant rights
Thousands of protesters rallied in cities across America demanding that President Obama tackle immigration reform immediately.

Deserted boy found at casino
Police were called to SkyCity casino yesterday after a child was found abandoned while his grandparents played bingo.

Sobering news for sports
High-profile fixtures and events would struggle to survive if bans on alcohol advertising are adopted.

Multi-tasking doulas
Some 'doulas' - women who provide personal support during childbirth are now also offering their services during abortions, writes Dita De Boni.

Beneficiaries and pensioners lose $430m
The Govt has cancelled pumping $430m into superannuation, tax credits and benefits that would have, in effect, been compensation for higher tobacco taxes.

Elton John says teen helped him turn his life around
Elton John says he's been sober for 20 years, since shortly after the death of an Indiana teen with Aids who the musician credits with inspiring him to turn his life around.

Australia to ban logos on cigarette packets
Australia is poised to introduce the world's harshest anti-smoking laws, with tobacco companies forced to sell cigarettes in plain packets resembling prescription drug packs.

Fashion and philanthropy - a perfect match
Gus and Irene Fisher have won the fifth annual Arts Foundation award for patronage.

Youth 'scapegoats' for alcohol issue - lobbyist
An opponent of raising the drinking age says if John Key was 18 right now, he would be unlikely to support it.

School points to bylaw in brothel row
A school chairman calls for Waitakere City to step in after learning Rodney has a bylaw stopping a brothel opening near a school.

Too drunk to walk? That'll be $250
Drunks could be charged $250 for a night in police cells or a ride home in a police car.

<i>John Armstrong:</i> Nats lose their political nerve over booze law
Party politics still rule when it comes to tangling with the vested interests of the liquor and hospitality industries.

Parents in shock at brothel by school
The owner of a brothel opposite a school says people should be more worried about children watching violent TV than his business.

Which do you prefer, Sydney or Melbourne?
Victoria is attracting immigrants in record numbers and building new homes at twice the rate of NSW.

<i>Underbelly</i> star enters rehab
Matthew Newton, who played Terry 'Mr Asia' Clark in the second series of Underbelly, has been admitted to a private hospital.