Podcast appearances and mentions of phil pennington

Critics are questioning the cost of the government cutting public sector jobs, and scaling up the use of artificial intelligence. Phil Pennington reports.

Ukraine has offered New Zealand a deal to build military drones here as it shops its Russian-killing technology around the world. Phil Pennington reports.

A massive new cycle and walkway between Wellington and Lower Hutt is being put to the test by commuters for the first time this morning. RNZ's Phil Pennington reports.

The Law Society is warning there needs to be stronger safeguards to ensure proposed new powers for police won't clamp down on political protest. Phil Pennington reports.

Surf lifeguards at Auckland's notoriously dangerous Piha beach have raised questions with police about possible delays in activating rescues at the drowning blackspot. Phil Pennington reports.

Search and rescue experts are hoping to see the back of an emergency system they say is tangled, and runs at two speeds, faster or slower depending on who is paying. Phil Pennington reports.

Silent for most of the last 14 years while the tower was earthquake strengthened, this Saturday they will be heard at the national Anzac commemorations at Pukeahu Park. Phil Pennington reports.

Firefighters have described clashing with police over who should rescue a woman trapped on a cliff above the sea north of Auckland last month. Phil Pennington reports.

A bill just introduced to parliament delivers new powers to police to move or detain someone, but just how far it goes depends who you listen to. Phil Pennington reports.

Angry truckers have banded together with bus, crane and even combine harvester operators to hit out about the overhaul of a crucial road rule. They've signed a joint letter saying size limits on heavy vehicles are limiting productivity. Phil Pennington reports.

A push to decentralise the health system is at 'extreme' risk because of workforce shortages, according to a Health New Zealand internal report. RNZ's Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann.

Political opponents are taking starkly different lessons out of the new findings into how the country's Covid-19 response helped or harmed people. The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the pandemic today released its second report, sparked by public disquiet that its first one did not dig deep enough. Phil Pennington reports.

Truckers are worried the government is embarking on building Roads of National Significance and putting in bridges they won't be allowed to drive over. Phil Pennington reports.

Phil Pennington went along to a rifleman roundup at the Wainuiomata water catchment area.

A prison expansion is on such a fast track, it prompted officials to ask if compromises are being made. Papers show the Hawke's Bay Regional Prison project is using a one-off "untested" design to speed it up. Phil Pennington reports.

A Southland town has overcome years of disagreements over privacy and costs to go ahead with new surveillance cameras. Phil Pennington reports.

Firefighters are questioning a police decision not to send a helicopter to rescue a teenage girl stranded on a Coromandel cliff. Police later apologised, saying they mistakenly believed she was dead, but emails suggest cost may have been a factor. RNZ's Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann.

Bike trail builders in central Otago are talking about an end to the 'dark days' when they ran into a mess of conservation rules, stopping many tracks being built for years. Phil Pennington reports.

Thousands of electric bike riders are taking to a central North Island great ride trail even though e-bikes are illegal on it. Phil Pennington reports.

The father of a man who died after he fell on an unsafe conveyor belt has spoken about his son's worries over time pressures at work. It is the first time the family of Wesley Tomich have spoken publicly, aside from their victim impact statements in court earlier this year. They want to warn others to speak up about workplace risks. Phil Pennington reports.

RNZ has revealed there has been multiple complaints of staff bullying and harassment at Starship children's hospital in Auckland. Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann about the investigation.

The country's newest fire trucks can't be sent to rescue people from burning buildings or vehicle crashes because they are too small to fit all of the lifesaving gear. Phil Pennington reports.

A US general in charge of building Donald Trump's Golden Dome missile defence system has come up with a blueprint. Phil Pennington reports.

It's one small step for SpaceX, one giant leap for New Zealand's fledgling space industry. A rocket bearing a first-ever experiment built in Lower Hutt has lifted off from Cape Canaveral. The mission, called Hēki, will plug onto the outside of the International Space Station. Scores of scientists and others watched the launch on a screen at a Victoria University facility in Lower Hutt this morning. Phil Pennington reports.

Two historians at New Zealand's War Memorial who teach thousands of children about the New Zealand Wars, Gallipoli and Vietnam, have lost their jobs. Phil Pennington reports.

The government spent over $10 million to do up the country's bell tower for fallen soldiers. Phil Pennington reports.

Have you complained about the lines charges that make part of your power bill lately? A partnership between Auckland and Silicon Valley could cut that. Phil Pennington reports.

An engineer who gives expert evidence after workers are killed or hurt says the work leaves him angry. Phil Pennington has more.

Emergency choppers used to save people after disasters like Cyclone Gabrielle are costing taxpayers more and more. Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann.

The Transport Agency has been secretly using cameras in billboards at city intersections to track cars and trucks. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

An American army commander visiting New Zealand has praised how the US and NZDF are developing an integrated "land power" network. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

America is asking more from its military allies and partners to prepare for future space wars, and New Zealand is on board. Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann.

The Defence Force's flagship project to fix up poor housing that is bad for soldiers' health has failed to break ground two years after it was funded. Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann.

The United States is modernising its nuclear weapons command and control system, and while it is not directly involved, New Zealand will feel the effects. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

New Zealand soldiers are embarking for the Southern Hemisphere's biggest military exercise in Australia, the first since defence learned it will get a big shot in the arm. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Last week's Budget had nothing in it for a key type of drone the government says is crucial to transforming the navy. Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann.

Complaints to a union show staff in a department of Southland Hospital were told they could only talk to each other for at most five minutes a day. Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann.

Oranga Tamariki is facing complaints from the New Zealand Security Association over its new contract to safeguard children's homes. Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann.

Heading into next week's Budget, Judith Collins says she doesn't want any more money for weaponry even if it was offered to her. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Health Minister has been warned of a large number of serious risks to his plans to outsource surgery to private hospitals to cut public waitlists. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The US military is holding talks with New Zealand about launching more satellites from here. Phil Pennington reports.

The Trump Administration is sacking 10 to 20 percent of its generals and top officers, saying this will make its military more lethal. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Oranga Tamariki is pinning its hopes on a $70 million IT upgrade, as alerts about children being abused surge. Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann.

Discord in the community and among doctors - this was an 'extreme risk' facing the scaled-back new Dunedin Hospital build, according to health authorities. Phil Pennington spoke to Alexa Cook.

The country's biggest electricity lines company is warning artificial intelligence is becoming a big wildcard in how much demand Auckland faces. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

FENZ moved to urgently restart a group working on a strategy for big-ladder trucks, just before one broke down in Auckland last week, stranding firefighters above scorching flames. Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann.

Police have been warned that shifting information to the cloud could have "severe detrimental impacts" on people if they aren't careful. Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann.

Two widespread communications failures in the Northland storm and Otago-Southland within two days last week have again exposed the vulnerability of critical infrastructure. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A report commisioned by Health New Zealand warns its current management of its hospitals and other facilities is so poor, it cannot effectively plan for upgrades or replacements, among other issues. RNZ's Phil Pennington spoke with Ingrid Hipkiss.

New Zealand is increasingly enmeshed in Five Eyes spy satellite projects designed to primarily benefit the US Navy in its race against China. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.