Phil Pennington
Kaikōura boat capsize shows failings of 111 system
The boat capsize that claimed five lives off Kaikōura in 2022 has shown up failings in the outdated 111 emergency call system. Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann. Audio
Hospitals still waiting for work to fix high risk issues
Five years after the first stocktake of shonky hospital water pipes and power cables, more than 40 percent of the worst cases have had no remedial work done. Phil Pennington spoke to Paddy Gower. Audio
Health NZ places number of digital projects on hold
A patient information system lauded by Health New Zealand is among a raft of digital projects put on hold. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio
American generals raise threat of China's nuclear space race
Top American generals have raised the threat of China's race for nuclear and space weapons superiority and praised a network of New Zealand and other allies during a US Senate Armed Services Committee… Audio
New Defence Force planes will need to be serviced in Australia
New Defence Force planes used for maritime patrol and submarine hunting will need to be sent to Australia for any servicing. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio
Can NZ trust the US after group-chat blunder?
Can New Zealand and other members of the Five Eyes spy group trust the US any longer after the blunder by top Trump officials? Phil Pennington reports. Audio
Commuters stranded as signal failure suspends Wellington trains
Train commuters stranded as signal failure suspends Wellington trains. Reporter Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio
Pressure on NZ to unveil defence plans
The top US commander in the Indopacific has given a glimpse of a war with China playbook, as his boss Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth heads around the Pacific fresh from revealing actual war plans to a… Audio
China unveils new tool capable of cutting undersea cables
China has unveiled a new tool deployed by a drone capable of cutting the most fortified undersea data cable, adding to fears for fibre-optic cables that are the lifeblood of the internet and New… Audio
Privacy breaches revealed at Oranga Tamariki
"Grievous" privacy breaches have been revealed at Oranga Tamariki, including a staff member who took a screenshot of a mother's file and shared it with the child's father, leading to the mother… Audio
Can NZ's new speed cameras catch drunk drivers or tailgating?
The company taking over the country's mobile speed cameras is running tests in the UK on how to catch drunk drivers. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio
PM calls for new norms on how armies use AI
The Prime Minister is calling for new norms on how armies use artificial intelligence, but also says rules are 'giving way to power'. Phil Pennington reports. Audio
NZ joins military exercises in Californian desert
New Zealand has joined military exercises in the Californian desert testing the world's most lethal drones. Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann. Audio
Police officers injured due to road spikes
Police officers who have been getting hurt putting out road spikes to stop fleeing drivers, have had to wait seven years for a safer option. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio
New investigation underway into Lower Hutt sewage plant stench
New investigations are underway into a Lower Hutt sewage plant with a recurrent stench. Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann. Audio
NZ would 'struggle' to act as peacekeepers says former major
A former army major says our defence force would scramble to raise a single company to act as peacekepers in Ukraine. Phil Pennington reports. Audio
Private satellites provide spying capabilities for Ukraine
US President Donald Trump's pause on sharing military intelligence with the Ukraine may not have blinded it entirely. Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann. Audio
How would NZ cutting international aid impact the Pacific?
What would it look like if New Zealand follows the United Kingdom in cutting international aid to boost defence spending in May's Budget? Phil Pennington reports. Audio
ACC calls in contractors to fix botched IT project
In another government IT pratfall, ACC has had to pull in contractors from around the world to mount a costly salvage job. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio
Police use of number-plate spotting systems skyrockets
Police use of number-plate spotting systems has skyrocketed to over 700,000 times a year or 2000 times a day. Phil Pennington spoke to Alexa Cook. Audio