Stories by Phil Pennington
News
Oranga Tamariki analysts have unnecessary access to personal details
Dozens of analysts at Oranga Tamariki have access to personal details about at-risk children, which they should not have.
Half of hospitals' critical IT hardware out of date, government warned
The tech in hospitals throughout the country is "fragile and fragmented", with 1000 devices over a decade old.
New roads of national significance to be tolled or not? Transport Minister responds
Chris Bishop said on Thursday Simeon Brown had "already signalled that each of our new Roads of National Significance will be tolled". But will they?
Cabinet papers reveal WorkSafe faced nearly $18m deficit, needed bailout
The extent of WorkSafe's woes, and its deficit - and plans to cut 170 staff to plug it last year - have been revealed in a newly released Cabinet paper.
NZ foreign policy not affected by inclusion in US military framework - minister
The United States unilaterally added New Zealand to its military-industrial base framework 18 months ago.
Boot camps to start next month, detention to be shorter than expected
RNZ has learned Oranga Tamariki has begun asking non-government organisations for help.
Oranga Tamariki began tech overhaul before it was ready
Oranga Tamariki began a multi-million-dollar overhaul of vital information systems when it was not ready, documents show.
Oil and gas drilling changes include loss of community consultation
The proposed law change would introduce a way to obtain a drilling permit without having to tender for it.
MBIE ends contract with spyware company - but is looking for a replacement
The ministry initially tried to keep the Cobwebs deal, and why it was set up and then not renewed, secret.
Fulton Hogan charged after worker dies while moving cones
Brian Barnes was struck by a speeding truck at a repair site on a state highway.
111 call breakdowns between emergency services exposed
Ambulances were called to a fatal fire by phone last month after a 111-link between police, fire and ambulance failed.
Supermarket spies: New bodycams' link to police surveillance
Software for new anti-crime surveillance inside stores will be integrated with that used to recognise car number plates.
Terrorism and extremism research funding cut by two-thirds
The government has slashed funding of research into terrorism and violent extremism, with the fledgling centre that carries out the research already having to cut back.
Slow death of work safety funding system that was falling short
Official papers show ACC has struggled to extricate itself from the scheme it knew was falling short.
No progress on disaster information system, despite years of warnings
A life-saving disaster information system that would have been crucial during last year's devastating storms is still nowhere to be seen, despite being fast tracked six years ago.
Waka Kotahi won't release briefing on motorway-building scheme
The final bills are yet to land for Transmission Gully and the Pūhoi motorway, but they're likely to each be more than $1b.
'Completely unique' soil to blame for big slip on SH1 in Brynderwyn
The area was so super-slippery, it was in a "critical state of stability".
$2 billion bill to rescue courthouses has officials considering PPPs
A slew of courthouses facing a $2 billion rescue bill have pushed officials to consider public-private partnerships to rebuild and repair them. The government wants more of the sometimes…
NZ companies could benefit from US space war strategy
NZ supports a US defence strategy to get hold of commercial space tech in a conflict, according to briefing papers.
War in space: US Space Force looks to tie in allies, including NZ
Analysis - Space is going off, and we're involved.
'Kill web': US eyeing NZ for help if war in space breaks out
The United States has been assessing New Zealand's capability to help with rapid rocket and satellite launches if war breaks out in space.
Education Ministry takes charge of school expansions as faith in PPP falters
The Education Ministry has taken back the job of financing, designing and building several school expansions, after companies said the public-private-partnership approach was too difficult.
New Zealand quietly added to US military trade law
The US has included New Zealand in a law without the New Zealand government's involvement.
Company with NZ prison contract advocates for AI use behind bars
An American conglomerate with a major New Zealand prison contract has been advocating the use of AI to monitor inmates talking to each other.
Oranga Tamariki may cut unit that looks after children's critical records
Abuse survivors have used the records to find out life-changing information about their family - and even their true ethnicity.