Imagine growing up not knowing your father because he has been declared an enemy of the people and has to live in another country you are forbidden to visit.

Certainly New Zealand offers a lot less than Australia in many ways, but at least we can still have the conversation about inequality, writes Dita De Boni.

Sir Owen Glenn's ill-fated family violence inquiry has stumbled again, producing a $7 billion estimated cost of family violence based on misreading of key research paper.

Leadership contender Andrew Little says he does not want the highly divisive debate on legalising euthanasia restarted when the party is trying to restore confidence with voters.

The Prime Minister recently made two announcements which appear worlds away but are intrinsically linked: making child poverty his priority this term, and attracting skilled people to New Zealand to enable continued economic growth.

Deborah Hill Cone writes: What is happening to our enlightened culture when even so-called intellectuals are preoccupied with pursuing Kardashian-level grooming?

The vast majority of people use fireworks responsibly. The mishaps are a tiny proportion of the fireworks let off at this time of the year.

Thirteen thousand kilometres from Rotorua, orphans in Kenya are plieing in leotards from the Geyser City.

Young aspiring Auckland house-buyers are not spendthrifts frittering their money on weekend entertainment but victims of an over-priced real estate sector, says an economist.

The chief executive of Apple has spoken of his pride in being gay, calling it "among the greatest gifts God has given me".

Child poverty rates in New Zealand are "stagnating", having barely changed since 2008, an international report by UNICEF says.

Yesterday the Court of Appeal decided the act meant something more: that women have the right to be paid the same as men doing a different job if the work is comparable.

Students accused of a "hazing" incident at King's College are likely to find out their punishment tomorrow.

Elite Auckland school King's College is investigating allegations of student bullying after reports Year 9 pupils were made to march like "prisoners of war".

The market has proven itself absolutely useless at housing the poor, the mentally ill, and the elderly - and anyone else who hasn't got $50k in the bank, writes Dita De Boni.

A fund that lends money to women interest-free is in the unexpected position of not having enough borrowers.

Mary Barry is a tiny voice in a battle over the future of Auckland, fought between powerful developers with expensive lawyers and volunteer community organisations.

Why make leaving harder than it has to be? People are thrilled that you showed up, but no one really cares that you’re leaving.

New Zealand's roll call of sole parents on benefits has dropped again - this time to the lowest level in a quarter-century.

A recent cartoon shows a couple arriving at a dinner party. One of them hands the host a small box with the explanation, "We didn't bring a bottle; we got you these tablets for mild alcoholism instead".

A leading fashion designer's comment that clothes "look better on skinny people" could place undue pressure on women, a psychotherapist says.

The head of one of NZ's biggest fashion brands has defended the use of skinny models, in the wake of controversy over Glassons skinny mannequin.

Andrew King writes: A recent report showed that Generation Y - those under 28 - were increasingly becoming property orphans and spending their money on travel and shopping.

Like barristers, I hand write everything: it enables clearer expression. It's a life-long habit which I enjoy in a tactile sense.

Catriona MacLennan writes: Low family incomes and high rents are the two key sources of poverty for my legal clients. The third is huge debt associated with car purchases.