Stories by Phil Pennington

Government ministers are considering what to do about large cost escalations and delays in mental health building projects.

The work safety watchdog kept the families of two temp workers killed in a road crash in the dark, and now says it regrets that.

New figures out on what the government pays contractors show steep rate rises of up to 46 percent, but also drops of up to 15 percent.

The mother of one of two temporary employees who died during a work commute has told an inquest he was "too scared to say no" to driving.

Internal documents from national health agency Te Whatu Ora show in January it was aiming to consider "lessons" from public-private partnerships.

The ongoing threat of landslides in Auckland sparked a plea from emergency officials for a rapid rescue team to be on call 24/7.

Whakatāne hospital's acute mental health facility is under threat from newly identified earthquake hazards, and the unravelling of government plans.

Company directors are falling short of their legal obligations to keep workers safe, seven years after law changes sparked by the Pike River mine disaster, a new study shows.

The National Party has mixed up its ministries in its latest attack on the government's rising spend on contractors.

Emergency work to reduce the risk from breached stopbanks has been completed by the Hawke's Bay Regional Council.

New Zealand needs to wake up to the threat of online voter manipulation in this year's election, experts say.

WorkSafe did not prosecute the Transport Agency over a roadworker being killed despite an expert telling it to.

Home owners in regions hit hardest by Cyclone Gabrielle want to know whether they can rebuild. Here's what councils have to say about whether managed retreat is on the cards.

A company that owns a defective building in central Christchurch is continuing legal action against the city council and engineers.

A radio network that has been a lifeline during Cyclone Gabrielle faces losing most of the government funding that keeps it running.

Out in Pakowhai, one local 'superhero' is doing his best to brighten spirits in a flooded and muddy community.

A Pakowhai truck driver struggling to save three family homes says he has already lost all his belongings and pets to the Cyclone Gabrielle floods and does not want to lose the houses as well.

A shearing contractor says he is having to reassess his whole business after Cyclone Gabrielle swept through.

Devices which convert motive power into electric power are noisy, spit fumes and are experiencing a huge surge in demand thanks to Cyclone Gabrielle.

Liam Harvey was in a truck laden with traffic cones heading through hills outside Napier to close off roads in the dark when trees started to fall, blocking his path.

A 30-metre boat ride across a once flooded river inland of Napier is all that is keeping hundreds of Rissington farming families in food and vital fuel.

Tales of resilience and recovery, spirit and sweat continue to emerge from the slip-scarred valleys of Hawke's Bay.

The big job of repairing the roads and bridges comes with big decisions for central and local authorities - which ones get fixed first?

Jo Cox believed her daughter and grandchildren were dead when they lost contact after the Tūtaekurī River enveloped their home, with the family huddled on the roof. Audio

Families cut off for days in the hardest hit part of Wairarapa after Cyclone Gabrielle have been flown out by chopper.