Young beneficiaries share their experiences of work requirements. Intended to be 'motivational' some say staff are 'pushy' and 'racist'.

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

Going back to work left Jan Berry either $23 or $40 a week worse off than she was on a benefit.

Three children under 5 and a sick husband didn't save Carla Bradley from being told to prepare for work.

Beau De Royce fears she could be forced to work on the streets if her sickness benefit is cut as part of a cull of welfare numbers.

Prisoners in privately run Mt Eden Corrections Facility were able to access the internet through faulty computer kiosks a security review of public sector computer systems has found.

A review of Government information systems' security found weak points in 12 agencies which have now been addressed.

A man sentenced to two months in prison begged a judge to keep him locked up for an extra day so he could pocket a $350 Winz grant.

Long-awaited rain is forecast for the drought-hit Northland region, with showers expected in some areas over the weekend.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has defended his decision to stay with a trade delegation in South America rather than returning home to contend with the drought.

No farmers have applied for hardship assistance after the Government cleared the way for the extra support by declaring five regions drought-affected.

An advocacy service helping beneficiaries, believed to be the only one of its kind in Auckland, may have to shut after running for 22 years, following a cut in government funding.

Fuelled by the highest rate of unemployment in 13 years, the queues snaking along the pavements outside the Auckland City Mission have nothing festive about them.

Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff has described the Ministry of Social Development as a "megastore of personal details" which needs to lift its game to ensure confidence in the public sector is not harmed.

The Ministry of Social Development is set to roll out new public computers from May next year to replace the kiosks closed after a security hole was revealed in October.

Two important points appear to be missing from the debate about child poverty.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says she left a meeting with hunger striker Sam Kuha with respect for the man and his passion for the problem of child poverty.

Redundant worker Kimberley Inu has won more than a month's backpay after Work and Income's call centre mistakenly told her she could not get the dole.

A Masterton woman who defrauded Work and Income of $91,000 was yesterday sentenced to home detention and community work.

Computer terminals used for 13 years by job seekers at Winz offices had the same security flaw as the self-service kiosks at the centre of the major privacy breach.

A Rotorua man has admitted benefit fraud which lasted more than 15 years.

Paula Bennett says she is embarrassed by the "atrocious'' performance of Winz staff who twice failed to react to warnings over public computer kiosks.

More information is about to be made public about the Ministry of Social Development's privacy breaches.

Jobseekers have spent thousands of dollars of public money at Glassons and Hallensteins in an attempt to impress future employers at interviews.