When politicians talk about making the labour market more flexible, it means ensuring that the demand and supply of labour determines the wage rate. writes Peter Lyons.

For decades, we've been told that if we worked hard and were patient, eventually the gender pay gap would close, writes Catriona McLennan.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Pokie numbers in pubs and clubs across Auckland will drop under a new unified Super City policy.

When Robin Vinod turned 17, he couldn't sign a tenancy agreement or be responsible for bills - but that was when CYF left him to fend for himself.

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.

Sickness will be at best only a temporary excuse to avoid work under the new welfare regime that came into force this week.

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

Doctors have been told that putting patients on welfare is akin to putting them on "an addictive debilitating drug ... not dissimilar to smoking".

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.

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.

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.

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.