Stories by Phil Pennington

A study that US officials fought to hold back reveals current levels set for firefighting foam chemicals in water, both in the US and New Zealand, may be way too high.

Roading officials are urgently double-checking inspections of truck-trailers on the West Coast by a certifier who is now under investigation.

A Wellington engineer suspended amid inquiries over towbars says he's been unfairly targeted by the Transport Agency before.

New Zealand Catholic Bishops say there is no evidence that breaking the seal of confession would keep children safer.

A second engineer has been suspended amid safety investigations into broken and cracked towing connections on heavy truck-trailers.

Some Catholic priests across the Tasman will soon be facing a $10,000 fine if someone confesses child sex abuse to them and they don't report it to the police.

The Defence Force says it has stopped using potentially harmful fluorine foams for firefighting training anywhere in the country.

Auckland Hospital says it only has one building that is mostly clad in a highly combustible type of cladding.

Health Minister David Clark says he offered the acting chair of the Counties Manukau District Health Board what he calls a "dignified exit" from his role.

The Defence Force has admitted it stopped using potentially damaging foam for firefighter training much later than it originally said.

Auckland Council has identified 25 buildings with Grenfell Tower-type combustible cladding, but stresses they are all safe.

Documents claiming the steel for the Seascape skyscraper in Auckland meets New Zealand standards are being assessed by the council.

A controversial audit that found fault with New Zealand building controls after the fatal Grenfell Tower fire is ringing alarm bells across the Tasman.

The lack of independent checking on steel for highways has  come to light after a two-year fight to get information off the Transport Agency.

Auckland's Middlemore Hospital says it is on track to cope with an expected winter rush though it won't open any new beds until July.

The country's main building regulator has a large number of vacancies, months after it was overhauled in an attempt to improve its poor performance.

The Ministry for the Environment may need to "bang some heads together" over firefighting foam contamination, Local Government New Zealand says.

New Zealand Defence Force is blocking a regional council from getting vital information it needs to investigate toxic firefighting foam contamination in its water supply.

A new review of building product quality controls has been launched two years after a previous one went nowhere. Video

Social workers have changed their mind about whether a young girl is at risk living with her aunt, months after they rushed through a report saying she was not.

Court papers show Middlemore Hospital failed to pursue millions of dollars in a leaky building claim against construction firm Hawkins.

The government is expanding the investigation into water and soil contamination from chemicals commonly found in firefighting foam.

Documents about the nationwide firefighting foam contamination investigation show the Defence Force told the public one thing, but said something different in internal reports.

A leading engineer who ran an audit in New Zealand prompted by the Grenfell Tower fire is accusing ministry officials of failing to act over what he says are potentially unsafe building panels.

A steel quality expert is questioning whether the rules are tight enough around thousands of tonnes of Chinese steel going into the country's tallest residential skyscraper.