Phil Pennington

A 50 metre high tower with 70 tonnes of bells in it that presents a high earthquake risk in central Wellington, has been allowed to stay that way for up to six more years.

The long running project to… Audio

House buyers are at increasing risk of developers using sunset clauses to bail out of contracts.

That's prompted lawyers to begin work on a safer contract in a market plagued by the pandemic.

Phil… Audio

Officials are pulling back from bold new standards to make houses warmer, because of the stresses on the supply chain.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment will announce new insulation… Audio

A man accused of killing a toddler in Southland in 2015, changed his story from saying he did not know what happened to saying he tripped on a skateboard and fell on the boy.

The man was charged with… Audio

A commercial airline pilot accused of being at risk of killing all his passengers has won a scathing court judgement against Civil Aviation.

The judge says the agency may have been primed to… Video, Audio

Air quality experts are looking to the government's pandemic school plan due out today to do more to protect students in classrooms.

They have just met with the Ministries of education and health to… Audio

Auckland firefighters who say they are being exposed to cancer-causing asbestos have issued a safety notice against their employer.

Fire and Emergency or FENZ admits it has failed to meet health and… Audio

Church lawyers are pressuring the Royal Commission of inquiry into abuse to narrow the scope of its investigation.

In response, the commission has asked for submissions about its scope, infuriating a… Audio

Skiers were unknowingly a "knife edge" away from catastrophe on bus trips down Mt Ruapehu, but the risk was only revealed after a crash that killed 11-year-old Hannah Francis.

The details are in a… Audio

Crucial upgrade or expensive lemon? That's the debate over a shiny new road upgrade now under way for central Tauranga.

Cameron Road will add space for buses and bikes but won't reduce the number of… Audio

More Aucklanders are dying or being  maimed on the roads because police are doing only half what they said they would to tackle speeding and booze.

The police themselves accept the criticism… Audio

Builders are learning that desperate times require desperate measures.

But woe betide if they take a shortcut.

Councils and a lawyer are warning that a rising tide of people wanting to alter their… Audio

Auckland builders are being told to plan carefully to avoid chaos when they return to work tomorrow.

Most sites are expected to reopen at level 3. But straight away they will face what other firms… Audio

Motorhome and horsetruck owners are demanding the Transport Agency drop a clampdown that is forcing vehicles off the road.

Waka Kotahi has targeted structural modifications that allow drivers to… Audio

A multimillion-dollar investigation into truck safety inspections has uncovered some shockingly bad welding and other dangers signed off by specialist engineers.

The highly controversial inquiry was… Audio

The escalating costs of building materials are jeopardising a first home buyer's $20,000 Kiwisaver grant.

The speed with which costs are rising is pressuring builders to invoke escalation clauses… Audio

The Government is dismissing calls for more protection of personal information in the Covid-19 contact tracing system.

As of midnight last night, it is mandatory for most businesses and event… Audio

Builders are refusing to offer fixed prices on jobs because of escalating prices and a critical shortages of materials.

Mortgage brokers says banks favour fixed price builds, so getting finance could… Audio

Thousands of construction sites are re-opening today amid predictions that common building products could run out in just three days.

The construction sector says the Government's failed to… Audio

Firefighters are warning that the country's largest fire trucks are showing dangerous signs of wear and tear.

The International Convention Centre fire in Auckland two years ago exposed the lack of… Audio