Cost Of Living

Social service providers say there's been an uptick in people needing support to feed their family, going without heating, living homeless or sharing shoes.

Our second biggest city is experiencing the type of revival that should make the rest of New Zealand envious.

Bitter battles over butter prices have led news bulletins, partly prompted by the finance minister's 'please explain' to Fonterra. But one editor says many in the media missed the point.

A misguided view of the generosity of welfare is one of the problems threatening social cohesion, a researcher says: "Without social cohesion, societies become increasingly unstable."

As more than 700 people sit down to community Christmas Day lunches, the levels of need in the community this year are the worst it has been, both Auckland and Wellington city missioners say.

There has been a 40 percent increase in homelessness in Wellington, according to a charity that works with rough sleepers. Audio

Opinion - Small businesses are being squeezed from every side, and doing it tougher in some ways even than during the GFC, Antje Fiedler and Benjamin Fath write.

Even more drastic change than the grocery commissioner's plans to ramp up regulation and enforcement is needed, Consumer NZ says

Tighter budgets mean lighter stockings as consumers get more picky with their holiday shopping.

Opinion - Rising food prices bring up debates on removing GST from fresh produce - but is this a good idea? And if not, what alternatives might there be to help people afford fruit and vegetables?