Phil Pennington

The Defence Force told the Australian military it had contaminated water at its bases months before it alerted the New Zealand public. Newly released emails also show NZDF gave the Australians a heads… Audio

Manawatu was meant to be the test case for how well officials handled the toxic firefighting foam contamination countrywide, but instead it's been like David in gumboots versus Goliath. Video, Audio

Documents say a heavy vehicle engineer kept quiet about deficiencies in his design for two years until a trailer snapped off a truck, exposing the problem. A safety alert went out about the engineer… Audio

A heavy vehicle engineer says the Transport Agency is engaged in a witch hunt against him. Dick Joyce of Wellington is subject of a safety alert and investigation into almost 500 heavy vehicle towing… Audio

Family Court judges have been taking their concerns about the way Oranga Tamariki operates directly to the organisation's chief executive. Documents obtained through an Official Information Act… Audio

Owners of historic buildings in the central North Island are threatening to walk away if the Government doesn't relax tight earthquake-strengthening deadlines.And four local councils are banding… Audio

A visting British fire expert says international confusion over how to keep people in high-rise buildings safe from flames is putting lives in danger. Gary Strong of the Royal Institute of Chartered… Audio

Central North Island towns are mounting a challenge against tougher earthquake strengthening laws, which they say threaten their historic main streets with "destruction by legislation". Rangitikei is… Video, Audio

A small rebellion is brewing in two northern Horowhenua settlements. Residents in Tokomaru and Opiki have started a petition and are holding community meetings to break away from their district… Audio

A Masterton trucker is pulling half a dozen rigs off the road at a cost of 10 thousand dollars a day after an urgent safety alert. The Transport Agency warning about almost 500 heavy vehicles marks… Audio

The oil company Shell has contaminated groundwater in New Plymouth using a firefighting foam banned in New Zealand 12 years ago. It only stopped using the foam containing damaging PFOS in March when… Audio

Taranaki locals are expressing shock at the discovery of groundwater and eels contaminated with firefighting foam chemicals. The oil company Shell has admitted using a firefighting foam banned 12… Audio

The building industry is complaining that Education Ministry contracts are shifting greater risks to builders, even as expensive industry failures are mounting. The contracts have been modified to… Audio

The grandmother of a teenage girl in the Hutt Valley says she fears her grand-daughter will end up on meth, following months without intervention by social workers. The woman, who cannot be identified… Audio

The Department of Conservation has been accused of unlawful discrimination by charging foreign tourists higher fees on the Great Walks. A complaint from Australia has now been lodged with the Human… Audio

An investigation into truck safety problems has revealed the brakes failed on a trailer that came loose on a highway. It's also now looking into whether certifers have been signing off towing… Audio

Building owners and designers are struggling to deal with the suspension of approval certificates for aluminium panels similar to those that burned on London's Grenfell Tower a year ago. They are not… Audio

A mother whose baby has tainted blood and a man whose business is being wrecked have spoken out at an Australian inquiry into firefighting foam contamination. A new nationwide pressure group says the… Audio

Newly released figures reveal the number of hospital buildings that are earthquake-prone is rising. That's a reversal of the previous downward trend. There are 77 quake-prone buildings with staff or… Audio

A review has found the Government's own gold-standard scheme to approve building products is badly flawed. It questions the competency and expertise of those issuing the powerful Codemark… Audio