Stories by Phil Pennington

An AI expert at a Waikato symposium recently pointed to a carafe of water, and told the audience using generative AI to produce a page of answers would use that much.

Asbestos-laden fibre cement board have been littering the sand around Tāmaki Estuary on various beaches.

A Fijian man sexually abused as a boy by a Catholic brother says he has a right to lobby the conclave in Rome over who it chooses as the next pope.

The reach of 'smart' road cameras is growing in scale and power.

Police are trialling a new high-tech tool designed to extract data from people's wearable devices, such as smartwatches.

One truck broke down in Auckland last week, stranding firefighters above scorching flames. Audio

There could be "severe detrimental impacts" if someone was accidentally given access to the data. Audio

The leading risk of damage is from accidents or natural disasters, but nothing in official online guidance allows for deliberate sabotage.

Its new Defence Capability Plan envisages spending between $100 million and $300 million on cyber upgrades in the next four years.

Two widespread communications failures in the Northland storm and Otago within two days last week have again exposed the vulnerability of the country's critical infrastructure. Audio

The result is the third straight year with no dividend payment to shareholders.

A Health NZ report says it "cannot effectively plan for asset renewals, replacements or optimise maintenance strategies". Audio

New Zealand is becoming increasingly involved, even as the defence force denies its tentative steps into space have anything to do with military operations. Audio

Experts are warning against buying anything that has not been tested in Ukraine.

Any launchpad would be for small test rockets initially, and take several years to scale up to the real thing. Audio

The Defence Minister has outlined an unprecedented half a billion dollars for space operations, as part of a new high-tech military push. Audio

The system would allow commuters to easily tag onto public transport anywhere in the country - but there are concerns it just won't work.

Accident investigators have asked a government agency to review 111 after risks and delays in a fatal boat capsize that claimed five lives.

Judith Collins has given the NZ military permission to acquire the drones but with conditions attached.

Wellington's public transport operator is preparing public transport in the Hutt Valley for changes ahead of September's RiverLink programme works.

Shortcomings in the current 111 and secondary systems were highlighted by a 2022 Kaikōura boating accident.

The transport committee is pushing for changes to a parliamentary bill

Health New Zealand has admitted it marked an upgrade to faulty pipes at Auckland City Hospital as complete when in fact it was not.

A watchdog has found the 111 system caused 'unnecessary delays' while people were trapped under the hull. Audio

Some projects marked as 'completed' by Health NZ still need more fixes.