An educated public, knowledgeable of what the issues are and requiring of change, is a prerequisite for any political commitment emerging.

The New Zealand labour market remained relatively steady in the June 2011 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today, with the unemployment rate remaining at 6.5 percent. The unemployment stats, just released, were largely expected by economists...

Many readers will have been taken aback this week by revelations in the Herald series on the number of children turning up at schools hungry each day.

Today the Weekend Herald salutes the winners of the annual Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards, which honour one of the country's greatest leaders, the late Sir Peter Blake.

Criminal charges have been laid against an unemployed man who travelled the world for two years courtesy of the taxpayer. Peter Freedom left for Australia in 2009 but his benefit payments were not stopped until last January.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has ordered an investigation into at least 50 households...

Some of the proposals from the Welfare Working Group are anathema to the parties of the left.

John Key says proposed reforms of the welfare sector will be rolled out in the lead up to the general election, and he says the system should make it clear that people must support themselves if they can.