Phil Pennington
Auckland mechanic warned five times before WOF suspension
It's been revealed an Auckland garage was warned five times over nine months by the Transport Agency about dodgy Warrants of Fittness before it was suspended. In one case the garage charged for… Audio
Oranga Tamariki 'failed' young mother who died - family
A family in mourning for a young mother who died while looking after he newborn baby is accusing Oranga Tamariki of serious failings. They say the baby and her small brother were exposed to drugs and… Audio
More survivors speak up on Catholic school abuse
A group of Catholic school Old Boys has found more sex abuse victims by forming an online network in the face of church roadblocks. Catholic authorities are now citing the Royal Commission into abuse… Audio
NZTA criticised for not focussing enough on safety
The Transport Agency has 'failed everyone' over dodgy warrants of fitness exposed by a car crash in which a passenger later died. That's according to the chair of its own board. Audio
Are car warrants of fitness safe enough?
A fatal car crash has sparked a slew of unanswered questions about the safety of car warrants of fitness. This after the Transport Agency stood by and let a Dargaville garage keep on issuing warrants… Audio
Govt spending on contractors millions more than thought
Spending on contractors and consultants by government departments has been misreported to the tune of millions of dollars. In just one example the Ministry of Social Development now says it spent $69… Audio
Horowhenua council CEO's blocking of emails condemned by Ombudsman
Between 2011 and 2017 Horowhenua District Council's chief executive David Clapperton was blocking people's emails to the council without them knowing. Ombudsman Peter Boshier told Phil Pennington that… Audio
NZTA takes tougher line on car import, testing companies
The Transport Agency is belatedly signalling it will take a tough line against a major business that both imports used cars, and tests if they are safe. But the inspection side of the business says… Audio
Lab tests find taps leaching lead into drinking water
Lab testing has found taps that leach a lot of lead into drinking water. The Master Plumbers industry group says theses are just some of the many dangerous products on the shelves and the Government… Audio
Health officials' response to deaths 'woeful' - expert
A suicide prevention expert is calling health authorities' response woeful as Porirua and Ōtaki grapple with a spate of sudden deaths. The Horowhenua town has had four such deaths since mid-September… Audio
$70,000 bill for autistic NZ girl to attend AUS preschool
A New Zealand family living in Brisbane has been told it will cost them 70 thousand dollars a year to send their three-year-old autistic daughter to preschool. That's under changes to disability… Audio
Porirua deaths were 'absolutely' preventable - youth worker
A Porirua youth worker is questioning why key DHB mental health workers were unaware for months of a spate of sudden deaths. Joan Buchanan who runs the Spirit of Rangatahi programme says people's… Audio
Abuse survivor urges school to remove priests' portraits
A survivor of past sex abuse by two priests at a Wellington college is demanding their portraits be taken down from the school's walls. Wellington's Catholic diocese admits one of the two, Father Fred… Audio
'It's too many' - Porirua community shocked by suspected suicides
A spate of suspected suicides in Porirua north of Wellington has left the community shocked and desperate for help. 200 turned up to an emergency meeting at the college hall last night. Phil… Audio
Steel and Tube stands by mesh integrity - analysis
Steel and Tube is still insisting it never knowingly broke the law and is standing by the integrity of its steel re-inforcement mesh. This despite the company being fined almost $2 million for 24… Audio
VTNZ admits inferior brake test on Waiheke Island
A big vehicle inspection company broke road safety rules by using an inferior brake test on Waiheke Island for months, and the Transport Agency let it. A manager who oversaw the testing by VTNZ says… Audio
Predator priest from NZ continued to offend in Britain
A predator priest sent from New Zealand to Britain was free to keep preying on children for two more decades because of failings by the Catholic Church. Last month RNZ revealed the crimes, including… Audio
Police investigate former Wellington priest
The police are investigating a former priest living in China, who was nicknamed 'The Phantom Feeler' by boys at a leading Wellington Catholic school. A witness to Father Donnelly groping boys in the… Audio
Govt hires lawyers to police truck safety after NZTA failures
The government has put Auckland lawyers Meredith Connell in charge of policing the safety of heavy road vehicles because the Transport Agency was doing such a poor job. The agency was castigated… Audio
NZ Catholic Church withholds findings on sex abuse claims
The Catholic Church has withheld its findings about a child sex abuse accusation for months from the man who laid the complaint. The man says this has re-traumatised him and proves the church's… Audio