Stories by Phil Pennington

Doctors have been on the phone to thousands of patients since this morning in a radical move away from face-to-face consultations.

The West Coast's new hospital opening has been delayed until September after defects in its non-structrural earthquake restraints were discovered.

A warning to the government several years ago over the risk of concreting jobs being done badly due to a lack of regulation is now being downplayed.

New Zealand's health advice on per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that contaminate many waterways is based on an Australian health panel's advice.

The massive new Hospital Acute Services Building at Hagley Park in Christchurch is beset by fresh delays fixing 8000 fire protection defects.

The Transport Agency is refusing to say what it has found out about the cause of hugely costly cracks and rutting on expressways that are just a few years old.

An investigation has found a series of faults in the Christchurch City Council's payroll system - prompting a lengthy review.

Homeowners near Wellington are reporting their local council losing the paperwork for their houses - and say it's costing them thousands. Video

Northland's biggest trucking operator has accused the Transport Agency of letting an employee wage a personal vendetta against him that's cost him millions of dollars.

A South Auckland oil recycling business has been able to keep trading despite facing unprecedented proceeds of crime charges.

The council is warning government officials of the risks of disastrous housing developments like some seen in the United Kingdom.

A major government department has failed to rein in its spending on contractors and consultants - with one spending almost $100m in one year.

In rural Porirua, Dr Kevin Frank is lighting a lot of fires. They're the first tests of cladding being run in NZ in response to the Grenfell Tower disaster in London. Video

The housing development agency has rejected council criticism that it left them in the dark and poached staff off them.

Government agency WorkSafe is promising to clamp down over "hidden" deaths that are fuelling the tally of workplace fatalities.

Local councils are protesting that a new government agency is making the issuing of building consents more difficult.

Kāinga Ora, formerly Housing New Zealand, is attracting council building staff with higher salaries, industry sources say.

Government agency WorkSafe is beginning new research into why so many work-related fatalities involve vehicles.

The Transport Agency needs millions of dollars to update old IT systems that provide crucial road safety information.

Fresh doubt has been cast on the strength and durability of the huge concrete basement at Auckland's highest skyscraper project.

Building owners worried they might have combustible cladding on their multi-storeys, but who have not been identified on any official list, are looking into taking legal action.

Russell Crowe is being challenged to help a rights campaigner who wants to fight the Australian government in court over its treatment of New Zealanders who make Australia their home. Video

The health board responded to accusations of breaching patients rights in its women's health theatres, pointing out a lack of national guidance on informed consent.

Figures combined for the first time show that many more people were killed than the public previously thought.

An under-staffed social work agency has been turning away applicants because it can't afford to pay them enough.