Police are prosecuting a company for allegedly supplying alcohol to minors at school after-balls.

A detective with personal links to Kristin Dunne-Powell should not have worked on the Tony Veitch investigation, according an official report.

Two young brothers are facing life in custody for beating, burning and sexually assaulting two boys aged nine and 11 reports Sky News.

Licensing tobacco retailers and turning cigarette packs into plain packages bearing only health warnings is among five new proposals to reduce smoking.

A study indicates 70 per cent of parents who abuse their children were abused themselves.

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia and Labour's Annette King are calling for action over a report slamming New Zealand's treatment of children.

Rangitoto College's decision to ban future school balls draws a strong response from nzherald.co.nz readers.

Rangitoto College "blackmailed" and "bullied" students for knowledge of planned after-balls, parents say.

Parents may organise their own ball for Rangitoto students if the school cancels next year's ball.

A Sri Lankan reporter has been sentenced to 20 years in jail for writing articles critical of the government's military operations.

New Zealand's biggest secondary school bans school balls after parents helped students to organise a boozy after-ball function.

Bars around the country could be breaking the law with promotions that encourage binge-drinking.