Phil Pennington
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
Fire rules overhaul lets tall buildings have single stairwell
As the safety of buildings worldwide is called into question, following the devastating Grenfell Tower fire in London, NZ's fire rules for tall buildings are being tightened and what will be the… Audio
Did the government give cladding assurances too soon?
The Building Minister Nick Smith assured the public there was little if any highly flammable cladding on New Zealand high rises despite Wellington and Christchurch city councils having done NO checks… Audio
Building industries sound alarm about weakness in standards
A range of construction trades are warning of widespread weaknesses in quality control standards in New Zealand buildings including those for fire safety. Phil Pennington reports. Audio
Call to suspend cladding certification following London fire
In the wake of the fatal tower fire in London an Auckland building consultant is demanding the Government suspend certification of a type of cladding used in this country. Audio
Ministry must act now on cladding - consultant
A building consultant says the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is not giving clear guidelines on the safe design and installation of aluminium panels. Audio
Global scientists argue over NZ fisheries management
A survey that rates New Zealand's fisheries management system one of the five best in the world is disputed by some marine scientists, who say the survey was biased and can't be trusted. Audio
MPI insists cameras on fishing boats will aid prosecutions
The 2017 Budget put $30 million towards the new fish Monitoring and Reporting System which the Minister for Primary Industries, Nathan Guy, said would make New Zealand the most transparent and… Audio
Countdown blame Govt for not keeping people safe in buildings
Countdown supermarkets is strengthening all its stores with proper seismic bracing of pipes, ducts and heavy units in its ceilings. And in doing so, can't resist taking a swipe at the Government and… Audio
Supermarket chain moves on widely ignored quake safety rules
A major supermarket chain says building regulations to keep the ceiling space above people's heads safe in an earthquake are being routinely ignored. Audio
Commerce Commission lays charges over steel mesh
The Commerce Commission has laid 29 charges against Steel and Tube for making false and misleading representations about their steel mesh. RNZ's Phil Pennington, who broke the story. Audio
China steel lab caught doing false testing
A laboratory in China of a big steel supplier to New Zealand has been caught doing false testing. Our reporter Phil Pennington has been covering the story and says China's regulator called CNAS… Audio
Push on to get Chinese companies to build infrastructure in NZ
A delegation of New Zealand engineers has just arrived in Beijing for a big push to get Chinese companies to build infrastructure here. They'll be meeting big state owned enterprises which could… Audio
New Chathams wharf bashes holes in boats
The Government has put aside money in Budget 2017 to repair and improve the Chatham Island's main wharf. The new wharf was smashed up in Cyclone Pam in 2015, just weeks after it was opened. Locals… Audio
3 months waiting for blacked-out child abuse report
In February RNZ reported on the death of a Southland toddler who was sent back into a violent P-using household by Child Youth and Family in late 2015. CYF is now called Te Oranga Tamariki, the… Audio
Serco scored high marks after near-fatal attack on inmate
Last week we had a story about Mt Eden prisoner Benjamin Lightbody who was left lying in his cell with his head bashed in while guards filed and ate afternoon tea in mid 2013. In latest developments… Audio
Prison inspector reveals lack of care of attacked prisoner
Prison investigators have found Mt Eden guards left Benjamin Lightbody, a severely injured inmate, lying unattended in his cell for 20 minutes while they did office filing and ate sandwiches. Phil… Audio
NZ still a long way from having a safe steel supply system
New Zealand remains a long way from having a safe steel supply system more than a year after the Government ordered officials to look into it. Phil Pennington says some progress remains but myriad… Audio
Industry: progress being made on steel quality controls
Last year Stephen Hicks of the Heavy Engineering Research Association labelled New Zealand the 'wild west' of steel testing, amid the fiasco over flawed seismic reinforcing mesh - but he tells our… Audio
Insurer warns of failure risk in braided plumbing pipe
New Zealand's largest insurer is keeping a close eye on a very common type of household plumbing hose after a rise in failures across the Tasman. Audio
