Latest from Social Issues

Woman who cut billboard avoids prosecution
An Anglican priest has decided not to press charges against a woman who slashed a controversial billboard outside his church.

Marriage is good but has downsides when it fails - study
Tying the knot is positive for the mental health of both men and women, according to a New Zealand-led international study.

Driver 9 months pregnant nabbed in blitz
A drink-driver nine months pregnant was among those caught in a transtasman blitz on alcohol and violence at the weekend.

Cell suicide brings call for legal help line
A coroner is calling for a national legal help phone line for prisoners in police custody after a lawyer could not be found for a man who later hanged himself.

Rape: Challenging the culture of male dominance
As a sexual violence taskforce report languishes in the Government's in-tray, support agencies for survivors are reeling from ACC funding cutbacks.

NZ, Aussie police in booze crime blitz from tonight
Police in New Zealand and Australia are cracking down on alcohol related crime this weekend in the first joint operation between the two countries.

ACC chairman denies acting politically
ACC board chairman John Judge today rejected an allegation he had acted politically over levy proposals.

Average worker hit with $200 ACC levy hikes
The Govt's ACC levy increases are less than were recommended by the ACC board but still about $200 a year for an average income worker with a car.

Happy kids become healthy adults - study
A study of NZers shows kids who suffer psychological or social adversity are at greater risk of suffering long-lasting health problems.

'Charter for rapists' - critics savage ACC
Therapists and counsellors say tight new rules for claiming ACC subsidies for sexual abuse counselling have become "a rapists' charter"

Labour closes ranks, backs Goff on speech
The Labour caucus backs "the tone and content" of a speech in which Phil Goff accused the Govt of reopening old racial wounds.