Stories by Phil Pennington
News
NZ tight-lipped over membership of space network
Analysis - Operation Olympic Defender aims to protect space from the likes of exploding satellites, but NZ is keeping quiet about its involvement.
Police backtrack on plan for new road spikes
The old road spikes have injured dozens of officers. Audio
Transmission Gully: New plan to tackle long-standing fight
A new plan has been hatched to try to resolve a years-long fight to protect native fish at Transmission Gully.
The months-long wait for answers about the new Dunedin hospital
Analysis - Health authorities sat on information about the new Dunedin hospital for months as the project spiralled out of control, emails show.
Govt's cuts to contractor and consultant spending ahead of schedule
The government says it is well ahead of its target to cut contractor and consultant spending.
Family and sexual violence: Government's action plan makes little progress
Nationwide efforts to combat family and sexual violence are not getting results, with government agencies blamed for poor access to services. Audio
Hundreds more jobs set to go at Health NZ
Two more units are facing major cuts, RNZ understands.
Health NZ's plan to stop or defer 136 IT projects
More than jobs are being cut by Health New Zealand's big data and digital cull, with the axing of more than 100 IT projects. Audio
NZ joins new group that 'might be answer' to US weapon shortage
The partnership "directly supports" America's defence strategy to boost "warfighting" capabilities. Audio
Woman wrongly kicked out over Foodstuffs facial recognition fail keeps fighting
"I've never in all my life felt so powerless," Rotorua woman Te-Ani Solomon says. Audio
NZ's cyber watchdog sounds warning over mass hacking operation
Hackers have been able to listen to telephone conversations and read text messages.
Health Commissioner to seek apology after 'cooking the books' accusation
Lester Levy will seek an apology from former Health Minister Ayesha Verrall after she suggested at Parliament that he had "reputation for cooking the books".
Defence Force to stop 'raft' of things due to financial crunch
"There's a lot of things we can't afford to to do at the moment." the Chief of Defence told MPs.
How to check if your hospital's fire detection up to scratch
New Zealanders can now see for themselves if their nearest hospital has old fire detection or dodgy electrical systems. Audio
Cuts will keep going to 2027, Health NZ says
Te Whatu Ora has announced it's extending its cost cutting plan as it reports a $722m deficit.
NZDF battles $360m deficit after 'austerity' measures fail to make dent
More jobs are at risk as a union warns there's also dangers for national security. Audio
How did Health NZ spend $72m on a single IT project?
Analysis - RNZ's Phil Pennington digs into how a single costly project is a test case for what can go wrong in infrastructure project planning.
Treasury's scathing assessment of major project planning
The Government has been handed a grim warning as it struggles with how to pay for billions of dollars worth of roads, hospitals, courthouses and water projects. Audio
Health NZ spent $72m on contractors for one project
And the big spend on external hires is set to continue next year, despite the ministry planning to cut up to 1500 staff. Audio
What bus and train fare hikes have to do with the government's plans
Analysis - NZTA is increasing the pressure for a big jump in public transport fares, while at the same time lining up massive spending on roads. Audio
Government turns to tech firms to boost NZDF
A rapidly deteriorating global security environment has spurred the government to reach out to high-tech companies to boost the Defence Force. Audio
Health NZ's project to pay $2b back to staff makes slow progress
Three small health districts are exposed to the biggest risks in the trouble-plagued project to pay back thousands of dollars owed to hospital staff.
Plans to build rocket launchpads at Kaitorete Spit fail to get off the ground
The government is backing off plans to build rocket launchpads south of Christchurch despite receiving no written advice on the issue. Audio
NZDF experimental tech to piggy back foreign satellite
It refuses to say whose satellite the gear is integrated into, but said the US is participating in the project.
Defence Force holds flurry of high-tech meetings with Western power trio
The NZDF has been meeting with the US, UK and Australia to discuss advanced technology and spy tech.