Stories by Phil Pennington
News
'We have to give this idea a chance': Cautious approach to boot camps advised
They must take a therapeutic approach, rather than a 'scare-them-straight' attitude, the Human Rights Commission says.
NZ considers report finding Microsoft failures allowed Chinese hack
The US tech giant holds the data of millions of New Zealanders given to it by the government.
Companies 'not interested' in public-private partnerships for schools
Construction suppliers are worried about the risk involved in building and operating schools, according to official advice.
Defence Minister talks AUKUS in meeting with top US military contractor
Officials told the minister that Honeywell International, which holds billions of dollars in US navy, army and air force contracts, wants to invest to grow in the region.
Backtrack over tech for medical checks on pilots, air traffic controllers
Civil Aviation has done a U-turn over a new IT system, after doctors raised "serious concerns".
Project to replace Civil Registration system falls through
The multi-million-dollar project was meant to give people far faster and more secure access to their identity data online.
Oranga Tamariki IT overhaul leaves social workers without access to some information
A multimillion-dollar IT platform vital to safeguarding children at risk of abuse has lurched into the danger zone and had to be reset.
Waka Kotahi wanted $6m to address rail safety concerns but never sent request
The agency watered down a warning to the government about growing safety risks on the rail network, while also failing to submit a bid for more money to tackle them. Audio
'Urgent risk' of China-backed cyber attacks - security agency
Security agencies say it is hard to tell if their warnings about an "urgent risk"' of China-backed cyber attacks on important infrastructure have made a difference.
Sensitive NZ Police video evidence shuffled around US tech companies
Sensitive video evidence compiled by New Zealand police has been shuffled around between US tech companies without them knowing, a newly released document reveals.
Spy watchdog won't ask if foreign system was used for war
The spy agency watchdog has not asked a foreign agency if it used espionage equipment based in New Zealand for military action.
More details revealed about NZ's AUKUS security pact plans
NZ "actively looking" for ways to participate in the controversial AUKUS pact, where work is underway on putting AI into submarine-hunting planes and radar into deep space for military targeting, a… Audio
Foreign agency ran spy operation out of GCSB for years
A foreign agency ran a spy operation out of one of New Zealand's spy agencies for years without ministers knowing.
Updates: Foreign agency ran spy operation out of GCSB for years
A foreign agency ran an operation out of the New Zealand spy agency for years, and ministers were never told.
Medical assesments of pilots made harder by new software - doctors
The Aviation Medical Society says the "out of date" and "cumbersome" system will make it harder to decide on a pilot's fitness to fly. Audio
Private operators to run mobile speed cameras
Waka Kotahi has put out a tender to run the country's mobile cameras from next year.
Chief Digital Officer: AI not being used in NZ government - yet
A guide to public officials, published last year, suggested a number of uses in policy development and for doing 'high-volume, low-value tasks' in public services.
NZ's largest cities still don't have emergency planning committees
The committees were made mandatory years ago, and FENZ has now been taken to task over lack of progress on emergency planning.
Asbestos removal in some schools 'falling short' - ministry
Some licensed companies have been doing such a poor job, the Ministry of Education is looking at tighter controls.
More toll roads are coming, but at what price?
The government says more toll roads are likely but the three existing ones charge a relatively low fare.
School left with no gym for four years
It is one of many schools struggling to overcome mounting paperwork and rising costs as it tries to finish a building.
Principal dismayed over 'completely inappropriate' redesign
A college principal says she is horrified at what has happened to her school's building project - even though it is supposedly a top priority.