News
Ministry signals another boot camp may be on the cards soon
The first pilot boot camp last year was with volunteers.
Infrastructure Commission suggests phased approach to building new highways
MPs have voiced concerns at the affordability of the government's Roads of National Significance project at the start of Scrutiny Week.
Cameras used by police after killings - but who covers the cost?
Police are increasingly accessing camera systems to identify plates from street or carpark footage, but say there are no plans to cover costs of these cameras for councils or businesses. Audio
Mixed views on end of firefighters' toxicology panel
While welcomed by the pros, volunteers fear disbanding the ACC panel will make it more difficult to access help.
'Forever chemicals' found in NZ whales, dolphins
Species feeding mid-water were just as exposed to PFAS as coastal Māui dolphins or deep-diving species like beaked whales, new research found.
Police tried to take licence off trucker twice before roadworker was killed
Ashik Ali faulty truck killed Johnathon Walters in May 2024, when the brakes failed and ran him over in Remuera.
Frontline firefighters to get say in what fire trucks to buy
Fire and Emergency was told five years ago to come up with a plan for what type of big trucks it needs and where to put them.
Government exploring monitoring of undersea cables
Over a million kilometres of subsea data cables power the internet, while lying among them are also gas, power and other pipelines.
Stats NZ: Grinding gears in data's 'big machine'
The Integrated Data Infrastructure system - run by Stats NZ - is hard to use and badly in need of an upgrade, say experts who rely on the data.
Homegrown maritime surveillance platform may help in fight against meth - PM
Christopher Luxon says a platform using satellites to monitor swathes of ocean in near real-time could be used in the fight against meth.
140 jobs to go in Fire and Emergency NZ's biggest ever restructure
At least 140 people are slated to lose their jobs, and unions say the proposal will decimate the agency most relied on for first response in emergencies. Audio
Government must stop 'short-sighted' FENZ cuts - PSA
Fire and Emergency is circulating a restructure proposal to its staff this afternoon but told RNZ it would not release it publicly.
Redundancy 'a last resort' - FENZ
FENZ is looking to cut costs and save $50m a year, as well as reset itself for a future of rising demand from not just fires but the likes of big storms, documents showed.
FENZ aircraft experts withdraw labour in long-running pay dispute
A dispute dating back years has meant reduced after-hours air attack backup, but the agency says that didn't make a difference to how it has been fighting the Tongariro wildfire.
Mental health worker strangled, but NZ Health denies staffing to blame
Health NZ has confirmed there was a "serious assault" on 18 October.
Could a NZ-Australia 'drone wall' keep China at bay?
Dr Malcolm Davis outlines a multi-layer drone defence - from long-range 'Ghost Bats' to cheap interceptors - that New Zealand could plug into.
'We need more robust buildings': Global consensus favours less 'drift' in quakes
In a Taiwan warehouse, researchers hit a button, and a five-storey, steel-and-concrete box begins to buck and sway.
Firefighter training facility shut down over safety fears
The live-fire steel cells in Rotorua are meant to simulate a burning building, but trainers say they're at risk of structural failure and are releasing carcinogenic smoke. Audio
'Can't keep doing everything for everybody': FENZ aims to save millions
Fire and Emergency is considering cutting jobs and "stopping or slowing" activities in a bid to save money.
Company researching forestry road safety after trucker's death
Greg Stevens' death in May 2023 has led to a laser focus on the state of old forestry roads, to enable checks before they're used.
WorkSafe cuts psychosocial harm team by a third
WorkSafe has reduced its team that focuses on psychosocial harm from 15 staff to about nine.
Asbestos experts fear 'watered-down' safety system
Around the same time Palmerston North's asbestos-filled Fitz bar was burning, safety experts were warning the government about eroded controls around the dangerous substance.
Father of worker killed in conveyor belt says son worried about time pressures
Wesley Tomich died on machinery at a Ballance Agri-Nutrients' fertiliser plant, after the company failed to put proper guarding in place. Audio
Doctors doubt solutions to bullying allegations at children's hospital
There have been multiple allegations of bullying and harassment of staff at a unit which treats abused children.