Auctioning off domestic chores and starting an online donation site has helped two Auckland teens "pay it forward" to a charity that is taking them on the trip of a lifetime.

A trust that sold off a 100-year lease of Auckland's historic Ranfurly veterans' home has called in an outside expert to review the quality of care the veterans are now receiving.

A New Zealand church has been let off the hook for forbidding a gay man from becoming a priest.

Cartoonists moaned when Rowling became Prime Minister in 1974, being unable to caricature him.

Excited Barnardos workers have volunteered to fly in from around the country to staff collection stalls at Beyonce's Auckland concerts this week.

Ex-soldiers could soon get support for psychological issues as well as physical injuries under wide-ranging changes to war pensions.

New Zealand rightly prides itself on being a leader in women's rights. It was ranked sixth out of 135 countries in the Global Gender Gap report for 2011.

The four most physically descriptive English words are sick, dead, drunk and fat.

With Ten Guitars ringing in her ears a veteran publican recalls the six o'clock swill and drinkers' cunning lurks.

Being able to get one up on potential burglars is a good feeling, says Evan Lockington, a resident of Viscount St, Mangere.

Reduced growth figures suggest revision of Auckland's infrastructure plans needed, claims Statistics Minister.

New Zealand ranks seventh among 91 countries for its quality of life and wellbeing for older people, says the first Global AgeWatch Index.

Latest figures from the Ministry of Justice record another drop in the number of young people sentenced for crimes in the year to June.

Having put their collective feet up on the desk as they contemplate retirement, baby boomers have been overtaken by Gen Xer as the most productive generation.

The Privacy Commissioner has been consulted on the possibility of using identification numbers attached to preschoolers as a way to track and punish parents.

Disgraced former employers' boss Alasdair Thompson has switched sides and is speaking up for raising the minimum wage to $18.40 an hour.

Wellington's Anglican bishop says he may cut his own salary to help fund a "living wage" for cleaners, caregivers and other low-paid workers.

Why can't an independent body fairly decide what a job should be paid? Or at least set a base living wage which people can actually live on, asks Brian Rudman.

At the 75th anniversary of social security, the system needs improvements, writes Margaret McClure.

As the Minister of Education who was responsible for the introduction of the national curriculum, I was very interested to read the article by Elizabeth Rata.

Former gang member-turned-youth mentor wants to help his community as a councillor.

Hundreds of people black and white, many holding hands, filled an Alabama church that was bombed by the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan 50 years ago.

About 60,000 Grey Power members will get up to 10 per cent off their power bills if they sign up to a new joint venture.

Hairdressers are the new front line in a campaign to strengthen "natural helpers" for suicide risks.

Almost half of all women and a third of men earn less than $18.40 an hour - a rate which two Labour Party leadership contenders have promised to implement as a "living wage" in the state sector if they win power.

A "living wage", for Ofa and Ngalu Tauerangi, would mean the chance to get a good night's sleep.

Youth are finding the story they were told about hard work is not quite true, writes Cathy Bi.