Phil Pennington
New quake safety doubts over police stations, hospitals
It's been revealed that not a single one of New Zealand's 315 police buildings constructed before 2011 have had a full earthquake safety check. Canterbury's district health buildings and a central… Audio
Queensland changes trade rules, exporters unhappy
New Zealand companies have labelled a new change to Queensland's trade rules as 'crazy protectionism.' The policy to favour local bidders for public contracts even if they cost up to 30 percent more… Audio
Building regulator Australia for inspiration
New Zealand's construction industry needs help tackling the job of clamping down on poor construction and building regulator MBIE is looking overseas for that help. Audio
Insight: Buildings Safe and up to Scratch?
New Zealand is entering the biggest construction boom in its history. Phil Pennington investigates if it is possible to avoid a cycle that has led to chronic and sometimes acute building failure. Video, Audio
Steel supplier dodges Commerce Commission prosecution
A steel supplier that gave customers wrong information on its test certificates has dodged being prosecuted by the Commerce Commission. Phil Pennington joins us to explain the case. Audio
Child found alone by cleaners in Vulnerable Children office
A child was found by after-hours cleaners at a Ministry for Vulnerable Children office in Takapuna last week after social workers forgot about him, one worker told RNZ's Phil Pennington. Audio
Building cost blowouts 'not our fault' - contractors
Sub contractors say problems with cost blowouts on small and large projects at Fletcher Building are not their fault. Neville Simpson of the Specialist Trade Contractors Federation spoke with RNZ's… Audio
No children were safe in state-run home- mother of accused
Police have confirmed they have an active investigation into a complaint by a 12-year-old girl who said she was raped last September by a teenage boy who lived at the same state-run home as her. Phil… Audio
Two teen girls report sexual assault in state care
Two young teenage girls have reported separately that they were raped by boys while in state care in Upper Hutt. Phil Pennington reports. Audio
Mother says police ignored 12year-old's rape complaint
A mother says police failed to safeguard her 12-year-old daughter when she made a rape complaint and instead returned her to the house where she said the attack happened. Phil Pennington reports. Audio
DHBs stay silent on whether they'll check quake safety
District health boards in high quake-risk zones are not saying if they'll get audits done of their buildings to make sure they're up to scratch. A survey of Auckland's hospitals found a surprisingly… Audio
Number of complaints against Ministry doubles
The Ministry for Vulnerable Children only came into being earlier this year but it's facing more complaints than its predecessor Child, Youth and Family, and a lot of them are being upheld. Five years… Audio
Complaints against Ministry achieve nothing
A Wellington mother tells Phil Pennington complaining to the Ministry for Vulnerable Children is difficult and time consuming and a new approach is needed. Audio
Claims Christmas Island assault investigation whitewashed
An Egyptian asylum seeker who laid assault charges against Serco staff at Christmas Island detention centre says police whitewashed their investigation of it. New Zealanders who posted the footage of… Audio
NZ detainees on Xmas Island punished for video post
New Zealand detainees on Christmas Island who posted footage of an incident involving an asylum seeker and Serco staff say they want everyone know what's happening at the detention centre, and how… Audio
Vast majority of NZ's multi-storey buildings have weak points
Since the devastating Grenfell Tower fire in London last month, the government here has been insisting that the country's high rises are safer than in the UK, but actually there's widespread industry… Audio
Fire protection failures surprise migrant engineer
Fire safety experts say only good luck has prevented a major tragedy in high-rise buildings. Alan Page is a passive fire engineer who moved to Christchurch from Britain 18 months ago, and he spoke to… Audio
Wairarapa couple win two year fight to get children back
A Wairarapa mother and father have won a two-year fight to get their children back - but weren't told for five weeks because the courts lost the judge's ruling. The Justice Ministry has apologised for… Audio
Parents delighted to win two year battle to get children back
The Justice Ministry has apologised for not telling a Wairarapa couple for five weeks they could finally get their children back. The father spoke to our reporter Phil Pennington last night. Audio
MBIE has lost its chief architect in overhaul
Architects are worried they've lost a prized top position in the building ministry at a time when all construction groups are struggling to cope with the strain of an unprecedented building boom… Audio
