Parents battling to get their children back from state foster care are being stymied by two-month delays to get hold of their official files, a lobby group says.

Just over half of voters support extending Working for Families in-work tax credits of at least $60 a week to beneficiaries.

"Our economy would be lost without these people," writes Michael Cox. Volunteering is big business. Over one million of us together contribute 270 million volunteer hours a year.

In Pyongyang, Kim Jong Un enjoyed perhaps the proudest moment of his nascent leadership as North Korea beamed its now familiar images of strength to the world.

School's back today after the holidays - but not all students will be. And in many cases it's the parents' decision to let them skip classes.

A year after Auckland Mayor Len Brown promised to crack down on central city alcohol issues, booze-related assaults are "bog standard".

Paris is an East Auckland boy whose mum couldn't afford a winter uniform.

Martin Johnston reports on the growing pressure to expand taxpayer subsidies and lower the cost.

Mother of four Michelle Gordon delayed taking her teenage daughter to the doctor for a fortnight.

He will be heir to riches of which the other 361,480 babies who share his birthday can only dream, writes Brian Rudman.

Police smashed a window in Hone Harawira's car after he ignored repeated requests to move out of the path of a truck at an Auckland housing protest last year, a court has been told.

Sir Owen Glenn's inquiry into family violence will go ahead with only half of its original budget remaining and with Sir Owen's own role still in doubt.

We don't really see the street. Most of us don't even look. Kids look, as I'm about to find out, but we adults, most of us walk on by, our attention fixed on anything other than that dude over there

The idea that New Zealand has become one of the most unequal societies in the developed world is just not supported by the data, writes Brian Fallow.

A doctor's certificate is often a ticket to social welfare. From this week it becomes a recipe for work. At least - that's the hope.

Drug and alcohol addicts may face longer waiting times for treatment.

Identification numbers attached to children as young as three could be used to track and punish their parents.

School ball costs have soared as social pressure leads more girls to spend up to $300 in salons.

An welfare advocacy group is warning that thousands of Kiwis will suffer under newly implemented changes to the beneficiary system.

Even being the sole carer for triplets can't excuse Jared Chase from work obligations under the new welfare regime.

Devaluing the outsider is probably the most common cult-like behaviour in everyday society, but it's not so easy to identify one's own crazy faults, writes Deborah Hill Cone.

Sole parents have got a clear message from today's welfare upheaval - planning to go back to work has to start from the moment a baby is born.

A couple embroiled in a battle with Immigration to prove their love is real are moving to the South Island to keep their dream of remaining in the country alive.

Editorial: The SkyCity convention centre project is a gamble for all involved. But the die is cast, so let's back the country to get it right.

Hopefully the agreed provisions in the bylaw for socially responsible intervention to deal with the problem of begging will remain intact. writes Mike Lee.