Stories by Phil Pennington
News
Overhaul for IT systems that 'risk serious harm' to beneficiaries
IT systems so old and complex they struggle to pay almost half of beneficiaries properly are to be overhauled in a $2 billion-plus makeover by the Ministry of Social Development.
Australian police suspend use of vehicle-tracking camera system used in NZ
The system in Australia and New Zealand networks thousands of cameras run by an Auckland company, Auror, which aims to combat retail crime.
Project Domino 'bandaid' buys time for troubled Hawke's Bay hospital
Hawke's Bay has a hospital with an overcrowded ED, ICU that is not fit for purpose and a scanning department that just lost its international accreditation.
Kaitaki ferry had many old parts in its engines when one blew out, stocktake finds
A stocktake of the Cook Strait ferries has found the Kaitaki had a lot of old parts in its engines when one blew out, casting the ship with 900 people adrift off the rocky south coast of Wellington in…
Pūhoi-Warkworth motorway: Geotech engineer says landslides 'normal occurrence'
Waka Kotahi insists the country's newest road is built to last despite a major slip, but a geotechnical engineer warns the gullies in the area all look unstable and landslides are a normal occurrence.
FENZ water rescue teams ready to be deployed though half still to get boats
Fire and Emergency began its first training of firefighters for flood rescues following Cyclone Gabrielle.
Heavy rain reveals landslide problems on Pūhoi to Warkworth highway
The Auckland Anniversary floods have reactivated a landslide that now threatens a brand new $880m motorway north of the city.
Minister did not get advice on fire risks to intensive housing, OIA shows
The government promoted intensive housing, despite the minister of housing receiving no advice on the higher fire risks. Audio
Te Whatu Ora apologises for false claims over cancer wait lists
Te Whatu Ora has confirmed just 70 percent of patients are getting their first appointment within a month, not the 90 percent it previously told RNZ.
High levels of toxic nitrates in water moving under and through South Auckland to harbour
The levels detected in a new GNS study in groundwater and streams around Pukekohe and Bombay are eight times the 'national bottom line' in rivers.
Cancer patients still being told of 12-week wait times, patient advocate says
Letters to cancer patients in the far south warning of delays in being seen have been sent out by Health NZ, shortly before it claimed it was seeing most of them on time.
Forfeited criminal proceeds: NZ and China split $70 million after laundering case
New Zealand is giving $38 million to China over a Canadian-Chinese businessman who laundered millions here for years, then last month tried to become mayor of Toronto.
Dunedin Hospital faces losing right to train junior cancer doctors
Dunedin Hospital has been losing ground in key ways on cancer services as it approaches a deadline to prove it is doing better, but health authorities say the services are well supported. Audio
FENZ training programme lacks 'purpose and resourcing' - review
An external review of Fire and Emergency's training of volunteer firefighters has found the process has many gaps and weaknesses.
National data platform for health info on the way, but concerns remain
Big moves are underway to fix the fragmented and insecure system for sharing people's health information with doctors and hospitals.
'Takes longer, costs more' - Report sheds light on health project overruns and delays
Health officials in charge of getting massive hospital projects built have been making basic, costly mistakes for years around budgets, schedules and design, according to a newly released report.
Rotorua Lakes Council wins case to make emergency motels safer from fire
A council has won its case to take steps to make motels used for emergency housing safer from fire and other threats.
Tauranga's 1.7km highway link cost blows out to $300m
The cost of Tauranga's Baypark to Bayfair highway link has risen by another $30 million, reaching nearly $300m.
'Data is the new gold' - Warning NZ at risk with reliance on foreign firms
An Australian cloud computing trailblazer says New Zealand is in real danger of giving away its capabilities to big foreign firms.
DOC's $25m technology project flawed, reviews find
The Department of Conservation has botched its management of a $25 million IT finance project.
Microsoft pushes Education Ministry to adopt AI programme in the classroom
US tech giant Microsoft pushed the Education Ministry to adopt an AI programme for continuous live reporting on children and teachers in the classroom.
Construction inflation, insufficient planning add to hospital project cost blow-outs
The latest cost blowouts for hospital projects include two Bay of Plenty mental health units poised to triple in price to $150 million. Audio
Telecom technicians, equipment not given priority status in cyclone - report
Critical equipment for fixing telecommunications was unloaded from aircraft and replaced with other gear, on flights into regions cut off by Cyclone Gabrielle.
'Number one hazard': Call for more unified approach to preparing services for flood rescues
The country is scrambling to deal with flood rescues in the face of growing threats fuelled by climate change.