Stories by Phil Pennington

The chorus of defence contractors interested in working on the proposed missile defence system is growing, with New Zealand-founded company Rocket Lab in the running.

RHCNZ - which does MRIs, CTs, ultrasounds and the like - increased its revenues and earnings in the latest year by 8-9 percent.

Counter-drone systems received funding in this year's Budget, but this did not include maritime drones which the government's $12 billion defence capability plan says are crucial for transforming the…

The ministry is being compelled to do more to fix its deficient training, data sharing and privacy systems.

A $77 million write-off of the Navy ship HMNZ Manawanui, which sank off Samoa last October, is contained in the Budget papers on defence.

Funding changes come at a time of intensifying security challenges as cyber threats and geopolitical tensions escalate.

The Budget shows the Defence Force's growing push into the drone warfare will focus first on "counter-drone" systems.

Staff were told about the rule, complaints to a union show, but Health NZ Southern says it doesn't have a 'no talking' policy. Audio

A congestion charging scheme could let police and spy agencies access the footage recorded by automated number plate recognition, critics warn.

Oranga Tamariki is facing complaints from local businesses it is not playing fair over a new security contract for youth justice facilities and care and protection homes. Audio

The Defence Force says it is aware the United States wants to expand options for rocket launches, but that it has nothing to do with it.

Analysis - The minister of defence, space and spies has at least $9b of new money to spend, and a defence force demonstrably not ready to spend it. Audio

Analysis: What official documents should be shown to the public? It might depend on which part of government you ask.

Simeon Brown was told of serious risks in outsourcing surgeries to private hospitals, but his office withheld most of the information. Audio

The US Space Force is moving to deploy more satellites including those that would support America's nuclear command-control-and-communications system. Audio

The US Space Force is in talks with New Zealand and other countries about launching more satellites from them.

Critics say the NZ Defence Force is top heavy and combat light.

The government has invested 20 times less per head than the US, and only about half the UK's per capita spend.

Defence is one of the few sectors getting new money in the upcoming Budget.

The ministry has indicated the overhaul will improve how long it takes for a child to be allocated a social worker.

"Discord" among doctors and the community about the Dunedin Hospital cut-backs are regarded as an "extreme" risk by health authorities.

An AI expert at a Waikato symposium recently pointed to a carafe of water, and told the audience using generative AI to produce a page of answers would use that much.

Asbestos-laden fibre cement board have been littering the sand around Tāmaki Estuary on various beaches.

A Fijian man sexually abused as a boy by a Catholic brother says he has a right to lobby the conclave in Rome over who it chooses as the next pope.

The reach of 'smart' road cameras is growing in scale and power.