The transgender community has responded to a Kiwi teenager who spoke out about her school's decision to allow a transgender student to use the girls' bathrooms.

The real minimum wage needed for a family to have a decent standard of living is about to rise to $20.20 an hour, says the Living Wage movement.

Watch: A 1990 video produced for the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi has resurfaced, and stars a then 10-year-old Steve Askin.

JS130217NADMOTEL070.JPG Mother-of-six Janie Davis with her 4-year-old daughter Dynahlee Toeke in Kamo Motel waiting for emergency

COMMENT: Inaugural chairwoman of Super Diverse Women Mai Chen explains why the initiative should matter to all New Zealanders.

As a New Zealander with Chinese ancestry, writer and actor Helene Wong shares her experience of diversity in NZ.

Super Diverse Women commissioned a survey of almost 300 Kiwis to assess their experiences of discrimination and diversity.

An inquiry into the abuse of children and others in state care to ensure the mistakes of the past are not being repeated would surely do no harm.

Students at Papakura High School are striving to change the community's perception of their school, one of the country's most disadvantaged.

Auckland's former deputy mayor says housing the homeless this winter is more important than low rates.

NZ is heading "off the track" on housing, child poverty and imprisonment despite dramatic gains on some other social indicators, a new report says.

COMMENT: There is frustration as well as fury in the messages mainstream media are receiving. Somehow we need to work out what is not being said.

More needs to be done to help children and young people access help, counsellors say, following the deaths of two children.

Migrants do not dilute New Zealand's cultural identity despite more coming from non-traditional source countries, experts say.

COMMENT: I admit to appreciating the aesthetic of the punch that collected Spencer, but I recognise that as a guilty pleasure that mustn't be nurtured.

Lincoln Tan poses questions on the Immigration challenges facing NZ.

Women will not be surprised to hear that they end up doing more anyway - because they are more agreeable than men and want to avoid conflict.

An Auckland beneficiary is protesting this morning as she fights eviction from the two-bedroom state home she's lived in for 21 years.

When Sarah Maindonald began working as a counsellor 24 years ago, she saw teenagers struggling with mental health issues, but barely ever a child.

COMMENT: Oxfam tells us that the world's richest eight people have as much money as its 3.6 billion poorest people. But what does it really mean?

What do you wish you had known when you were young? Here people have revealed the heartbreaking life lessons they learned too late.

His comments drew a sharp reaction from beggars in central Auckland yesterday.

A pregnant, homeless woman said Sir Bob Jones' idea of outlawing begging won't stop people from hitting the streets.

Readers have responded to controversial remarks by businessman Sir Bob Jones whose comments included that beggars were "fat Maoris" and a "bloody disgrace".

Two New Zealanders own more wealth than the poorest 30 per cent of the adult population, according to new research by Oxfam.

COMMENT: What was a good-natured little interaction between two people, has suddenly been warped into something strained.

Miller Patane's long lost sister "bawled her eyes out" when she saw her long lost brother's photo in the Herald after he was given food by newlyweds.

How likely young New Zealanders are to be "on track" at age 21 has been mapped using a powerful government database.

Barefoot and with his belongings in a bag, Miller was brought to tears by the kindness of a couple on their wedding day. Can you help us find him?

The 'Family First' group has put an interesting idea into debate for this election year.