Phil Pennington

Figures obtained by RNZ show Oranga Tamariki budgeted $11 million but spent just $7m, a $4m underspend or 38 percent, meaning community child support services got a lot less than they could have.

Firefighters have been struggling with their big ladder hoses breaking down, posing a danger to them and to being able to put out a fire.

The father of a forestry worker killed on the job says a coroner's findings could herald a shake-up for the industry.

A major Masterton building owner is furious at the outcome of a five-year-long inquiry into a structural engineer signing off on flawed earthquake designs. Audio

The Ministry for Culture and Heritage is grappling with a lack of Māori language and culture capabilities, according to internal surveys.

Police are pressing pause for now on using facial recognition technology to identify people off live camera feeds, but will still use it on stored footage.

A service helping children recover from sexual violence says there is little sign of extra help coming under a new national strategy.

A change to a key part of the housing intensification bill has been enough to alarm supporters, but too little to placate critics.

Government officials are confident Tiwai Point aluminium smelter will not close if aluminium prices remain high.

An MIQ hotel health and safety representative says problems with escapees are not being addressed because the system neglects workers.

The High Court has ruled against the police who are trying to avoid paying up if they lose an unprecedented proceeds-of-crime case over a fatal explosion that killed a young welder.

Consents for medical facilities are being held up by extra questions about fire safety designs.

Vital hospital building projects in Auckland are being delayed for months by questions over fire designs - and especially the safe evacuation of smoke-filled rooms.

A review of firefighting at a big South Auckland warehouse blaze says asbestos floated up to 1km away as concerns remain over Fire and Emergency safety protocols.

Developers have told MPs they do not want a housing intensification bill that gives them open slather across swathes of suburbia. Developers have told MPs they do not want a...

Householders face losing over a billion dollars worth of sunlight and views under radical housing intensification law changes underway.

Landfills across the country are expected to be filled with more demolition waste when building rules kick in allowing increased housing intensification.

A bill to allow three homes up to three storeys high on one existing section is stirring controversy as it is rushed through Parliament.

Home buyers who lost out on a deal after their developers backed out using a sunset clause, and in some cases went on to sell the property for hundreds of thousands more.

A 50m-tall tower with 70 tonnes of bells in it that presents a high earthquake risk in central Wellington has been approved to stay that way for up to six years.

Official records about the shaky state of the prized Carillon bell tower have been "splintered", making it harder for the public to find out what is going on.

Work is underway to deliver a clearer contract to address the risk of the sunset clause, in which developers can bail out.

Fire and Emergency has asked the government for a temporary exception to the vaccine mandate.

The professional firefighters' union is warning there will not be enough crews left for callouts when the Covid vaccine mandate kicks in next week.

Officials have pulled back from the boldest approaches to making houses warmer, because of the stresses on the supply chain.