A Tauranga campsite which has banned adults and families in favour of those who are "young, dumb and full of beer" has been criticised by police and an alcohol abuse expert.

Nearly three-quarters of New Zealanders feel that the Roast Busters case showed high school students needed to be taught about respectful attitudes to sex.

I imagine parents need to dial down the effusive praise and cast a realistic eye over these artistic endeavours.

Most societies are hard on their youth, writes Peter Lyons.

Sachets of alcohol designed to be slipped discreetly into purses and pockets are being sold in liquor stores, alarming police and alcohol-watch groups.

Here are the four youngsters Tennis New Zealand are hoping to propel into the world's top 150.

A funny portrayal of a "cool dad" in a television ad about under-18s drinking has won praise for challenging parents' thinking on how they should behave at young people's parties.

Cognitive development research is, like its subjects, still in its infancy, but it seems that our tiny tots are a lot smarter than science once gave them credit for. Angela Saini reports on the latest evidence — and argument — from the baby labs.

More students are seeking help from counsellors and guidance services - and a report has found many school services are struggling under pressure or simply not up to scratch.

I am constantly impressed, and sometimes amazed, by what our young people are doing and achieving, writes Prime Minister John Key. They, of course, are the leaders of the future.

The rate of babies dying prematurely or from sudden unexpected death in infancy has dropped sharply - but it's still too many, say child health experts.

Ten-year-old Charlotte Cornwall was one of more than 1300 local kids to swim, bike and run their way through the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids Try-athlon in Manurewa yesterday morning.

A young girl has tried to take her own life at school in a town already stunned by two other girls' sudden deaths.

Hey kids, get ready to shout 'Look behind you!' when the Christmas panto season starts, says Dionne Christian.

Richard Aston is a former IT corporate high-flyer who for the past decade has run the Big Buddy programme, matching men with boys who need a male role model. He spent seven years on the Rainbow Valley commune near Nelson.

Three teenagers will appear in court in Lower Hutt today charged with kidnapping after a car-jacking which lasted about five hours on Saturday night.

High school years are when teens face important decisions that will shape their future. But whom do they go to when they need advice?

Youngsters with ambitions, no matter how challenging or unlikely, will learn to focus and work hard.

In a matter of months, Cyrus has apparently become a pervasive socio-cultural influence and the cause of everything that's wrong with today's youth.

Justice Minister Judith Collins says sexual abuse has nothing to do with the way a woman dresses, and has slammed radio hosts for making this connection.

Sexual violence is an abhorrent crime. Offenders who sexually attack women, and men, should face the full consequences of their actions, writes Judith Collins.

The high school several Roast Busters members attended is checking its website.

Police have upped the ante on the Roast Busters investigation, appointing a woman detective with significant experience in child sexual abuse cases.

Young women are striking back against the Roast Busters Facebook gang in a bid to support alleged victims and stand up to what they say is a lack of action against rape culture.

In small towns, mayors are as well placed as anyone to tackle unemployment.

A Far North community grappling with a cluster of youth deaths says the Government isn't doing enough to prevent youth suicide.