Stories by Phil Pennington
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Spy watchdog won't ask if foreign system was used for war
The spy agency watchdog has not asked a foreign agency if it used espionage equipment based in New Zealand for military action.
More details revealed about NZ's AUKUS security pact plans
NZ "actively looking" for ways to participate in the controversial AUKUS pact, where work is underway on putting AI into submarine-hunting planes and radar into deep space for military targeting, a… Audio
Foreign agency ran spy operation out of GCSB for years
A foreign agency ran a spy operation out of one of New Zealand's spy agencies for years without ministers knowing.
Updates: Foreign agency ran spy operation out of GCSB for years
A foreign agency ran an operation out of the New Zealand spy agency for years, and ministers were never told.
Medical assesments of pilots made harder by new software - doctors
The Aviation Medical Society says the "out of date" and "cumbersome" system will make it harder to decide on a pilot's fitness to fly. Audio
Private operators to run mobile speed cameras
Waka Kotahi has put out a tender to run the country's mobile cameras from next year.
Chief Digital Officer: AI not being used in NZ government - yet
A guide to public officials, published last year, suggested a number of uses in policy development and for doing 'high-volume, low-value tasks' in public services.
NZ's largest cities still don't have emergency planning committees
The committees were made mandatory years ago, and FENZ has now been taken to task over lack of progress on emergency planning.
Asbestos removal in some schools 'falling short' - ministry
Some licensed companies have been doing such a poor job, the Ministry of Education is looking at tighter controls.
More toll roads are coming, but at what price?
The government says more toll roads are likely but the three existing ones charge a relatively low fare.
School left with no gym for four years
It is one of many schools struggling to overcome mounting paperwork and rising costs as it tries to finish a building.
Principal dismayed over 'completely inappropriate' redesign
A college principal says she is horrified at what has happened to her school's building project - even though it is supposedly a top priority.
Whānau 'gutted' after WorkSafe declines to investigate young men's deaths
Jake Ginders and Floyd Harris died during an illegal commute. Now their families' five-year fight for accountability has hit a brick wall.
'Really valuable" forestry safety programme cut in WorkSafe shake-up
WorkSafe is cutting funding to safety programmes worth almost $15 million a year, skittling a "really valuable" one in the high-risk forestry industry.
Fire and Emergency warns 12.8% levy rise won't be enough
The levy on vehicle, house and other property insurance is set to rise by 12.8 percent in July - the first rise in seven years.
Broken promises: Ministry apologises to Kaipara College for scrapping new build
An apology to a school from the Secretary of Education says the ministry was too slow to flag rising costs.
U-turn in key private health provider's take on shareholder models
The country's largest medical imaging business is looking at adding a shareholder model that it up till recently was deploring as bad for patients.
Emails reveal concerns within Waka Kotahi about name change
The agency's head ordered the only line about a partnership with Māori removed from a message about relegating the name.
Te Whatu Ora disputes reports of mistakes in paying back nurses
The nurse's union says mistakes robbing nurses of tens of thousands of dollars are being made by the health systems pay back system.
KiwiRail asks who will pay for ferry terminal upgrade
KiwiRail says it is now looking at buying second-hand ships for the Cook Strait ferry service, and is asking what to do about the terminals.
Train track foundations in Auckland not strong enough - KiwiRail
MPs have questioned KiwiRail executives and the board chair about why it had got this bad.
Flawed 111 system causing deaths - police documents
In one example, a woman was stabbed to death by a partner who overheard her making a 111 call.
AUKUS a China containment strategy - Labour
The Labour Opposition is walking back its openness to joining one wing of the AUKUS military pact. Video