Phil Pennington
Public sector cuts to take away fire expertise at MBIE
The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment only has two senior fire engineers - and is proposing to axe one of them. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio
Contractors and consultants under fire in public sector
Police and NZTA is spending big on contractors and consultants as other core public sector agencies cut staff Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann. Audio
Two school classrooms contaminated by asbestos, emails show
Two school classrooms suffered extensive contamination with the most dangerous type of asbestos after the wall linings were taken off without any testing. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio
The tougher boot camps, the less effective Govt told
The Government's own advisers have told it that the tougher the new boot camps are, the less they will work and might even do harm. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio
Microsoft grilled over slack cyber security
Microsoft has been castigated by the US Department of Homeland Security for its slack cyber security and a cascade of errors that let in Chinese hackers. Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann. Audio
Government warned companies not interested in building schools
The Government has been warned that companies that could build and operate schools think it is too risky and are not interested.
It has also been told financing school builds with public-private… Audio
Defence Minister met with US military contractor to talk about AUKUS Pillar Two
The Defence Minister has met with a major American military contractor to talk about the controversial - and critics say 'anti-China' - security pact AUKUS Pillar Two.
Officials told Judith Collins… Audio
Government department pulls plug on project to give secure access to data
A government department has pulled the plug on a multi-million-dollar project meant to give people more secure access to birth, death and marriage data online.
Internal Affairs won't say how much… Audio
OIA papers reveal Oranga Tamariki trying to overhaul old technology
A multimillion-dollar IT platform vital to safeguard children at risk of abuse has lurched into the danger zone and had to be reset.
Oranga Tamariki is trying to overhaul technology so old its… Audio
NZTA watered down warning to Government over rail safety risks
The transport agency watered down a warning to the Government about growing safety risks on the rail network - as well as a bid for more money to tackle them.
Papers show it wanted $6 million to… Audio
US tech companies had NZ police evidence videos
A document shows sensitive police video evidence was shuffled around between US tech companies without the police having any idea.
This has come to light in reports about the risks and costs of the… Audio
NZ looking for ways to participate in AUKUS briefing shows
New Zealand is looking for "ways to participate" in the controversial AUKUS pact, where work is going on into putting AI into submarine-hunting planes and radar into deep space for military targeting.
…Questions continue over bombshell investigation at GCSB
What country was running a spying operation remotely out of the New Zealand intelligence gathering system for years without the government knowing?
Local spy bosses knew it was good at identifying… Audio
Investigation reveals foreign spy operating out of NZ
A foreign agency ran a spy operation out of New Zealand's main spy agency for years without the government knowing.
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security has revealed this in an… Audio
Doctors call on Civil Aviation Authority to reverse IT plan
Doctors who do medical checks on pilots are warning new software for recording their results is out of date, missing vital bits and unsafe.
They want the Civil Aviation Authority to backpedal on a… Audio
Private operators to run mobile speed cameras
Private operators instead of police are poised to take over running mobile speed cameras on highways for the first time.
The transport agency says the private company will not be allowed to issue… Audio
Education Ministry looking closer at asbestos removal
Some licensed companies have been doing a bad job of removing asbestos at schools.
It has forced the Education Ministry to look at closer controls.
Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann. Audio
Road tolls may need to rise to cover costs
Experts say the cost of driving on a toll road needs to rise, even double, to make it worthwhile to open more.
Research shows the charges in place at just three highways are way lower than in other… Audio
WorkSafe pulls out of funding safety programmes
WorkSafe is pulling out of funding safety programmes to the tune of up to $15 million a year, skittling one in the high-risk forestry industry.
But ACC, which gives WorkSafe the money, says putting a… Audio
NZTA Waka Kotahi struggling with name change
Emails show the chief executive of the Transport Agency ordered the only line about a partnership with Maori removed from a press release about relegating the name 'Waka Kotahi' to second place. This… Audio