Generation X New Zealanders who have a stable partner and have left the country are richer than those who are single and still living here, research shows.

Paul Little writes: Cognitive dissonance describes that uncomfortable feeling we get when reality doesn't match what we believe. And isn't that most of the time?

Fighting began in the key central Iraqi city of Tikrit, birthplace of the former dictator Saddam Hussein, as government forces and Shia militia launched a major assault to displace Isis jihadists.

The $163 million cost of changing the child support rules will increase further when the IRD implements a completely new computer system.

New Zealand is among the best in the world at expanding human rights, religious tolerance and peaceful dialogue, writes David Rutherford.

But why does being poor make you fat? Here's a thought: it could be a lack of personal responsibility, writes Rodney Hide.

We work shorter days than ever, spend less time on household chores and more time on social media —so why are we are all so busy and why do we brag about it? Rebecca Barry Hill looks at the busy-ness trap and how we can escape from it.

A large student population surrounds Otago University creating an intense, rich, youthful culture. Great ideas spew out of those messy flats. So does spew, writes Matt Heath.

Kelly Brown found a new "family" on the streets of Auckland after being removed from his biological family at the age of 7.

Robin Kearns writes: Whose city is this? Does Auckland belong only to adults and motorists? Perhaps we all need to slow down and reconsider our priorities.

For all its success, Still Alice is a shameful anomaly as well as a triumph, simply by dint of the fact that at its heart is a middle-aged woman.

A community housing provider has told the Government that it won't buy state houses when they're put up for sale this year unless the price is zero.

Former MP Hone Harawira has been called in to try to ease tensions in Glen Innes after a rock was thrown at a removal man trying to move a state house out of the area last year.

A viral video of a 9-year-old Kiwi asking for support to live as a boy after being born a girl has impressed transgender advocates and prompted an overwhelmingly positive response.

Walt Glazer asks whether Auckland should become the Hong Kong of the South Pacific or remain a Kiwi oasis of security for the future.

Salvation Army says housing shortage adding "incredible stress" to families as its State of Nation report shows Auckland's crisis worsened by a record near-4000 houses last year.

A counsellor in charge of an addiction rehab centre, where patients were given pocket knives and allowed to use air-rifles, fleeced one by charging for numerous counselling sessions that never took....

Ngati Whatua state house tenant Apihai Pihema supports returning state housing to iwi in principle - but he worries that the rents could go so high that he might have to leave.

A charity tagged as a likely buyer of state houses says it is reviewing its involvement unless it can get either more capital from the Govt or a very low price for the houses.

Gareth Morgan says the National Party a decade ago was "harsh and intolerant" - but not many people turn up to hear him speak.

Leading Maori tribes are lobbying to get first bidding rights for state houses when they start going up for sale this year.

Gareth Morgan is heading to Orewa to confront what he calls the "ignorance of Brash-think".

In the flush of election victory, John Key said something about tackling child poverty in this term. He was looking for fresh ideas from ministers in the new year.

It is difficult to erase the suspicion that the social housing policy is motivated by ideology as much as anything else, writes John Armstrong.

Police stations have become "mini prisons" because of an unexpected overflow of inmates and a senior police officer fears frontline staff may be pulled from their duties to help man the cells.

Those at Davos, seemingly representing the interests of the very wealthy, like to think they are working to make the world a better place - as long as they are not inconvenienced in doing so.

State of the Nation speeches, so called, are really about the state of the government or the party in opposition at the opening of a new political year. Politicians, like the public, have been refreshed by a summer break.

"The Labour Party I lead is about jobs, good jobs, skilled jobs, well-paid jobs." Andrew Little has delivered his first state of the nation speech.