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Stories by Phil Pennington

Kiwi Stories

Written by Phil Pennington

Police AI: Investigator uploads 350,000 lines of audio in risky workaround
Surveillance

Police AI: Investigator uploads 350,000 lines of audio in risky workaround

Pressure on investigators drove them to use unsecured AI tools, risking confidential police evidence and exposing major gaps in oversight.

By Phil Pennington • 5 min read • 5 days ago
Affordability of hospitals' upgrade a 'major concern' documents show
Ministry of Health

Affordability of hospitals' upgrade a 'major concern' documents show

Funding fears are forcing the five-hospital redevelopment to be phased, while Health New Zealand has also underspent almost $700 million on infrastructure.

By Phil Pennington • 3 min read • Last week
How to cut public sector jobs? A much more aggressive approach to AI
Digital Transformation

How to cut public sector jobs? A much more aggressive approach to AI

The proposed cuts could deepen service risks, as officials urged ministers to back a much more aggressive push into AI and digitisation.

By Phil Pennington • 7 min read • This month
Second Auckland harbour crossing appears feasible, review finds
Risk & Compliance

Second Auckland harbour crossing appears feasible, review finds

A second Waitematā crossing could still go ahead, though ministers have more work to do before choosing between a tunnel, bridge or other option.

By Phil Pennington • 2 min read • Last month
Southern hospital IT outage caused by third-party hardware failure, Health NZ says
Data Protection

Southern hospital IT outage caused by third-party hardware failure, Health NZ says

Health NZ says a third-party hardware failure caused a 36-hour South Island hospital IT outage that forced staff back to pen and paper.

By Phil Pennington • 2 min read • Thu, 12th Feb 2026
NZ submarine cables are 'attractive espionage targets', officials warn
Network Infrastructure

NZ submarine cables are 'attractive espionage targets', officials warn

Officials alert PM that submarine cables, vital for vast data transfers, are attractive espionage targets amid global concerns over their security.

By Phil Pennington • 4 min read • Tue, 29th Apr 2025
Police warned over shifting information to Microsoft cloud services
Data Protection

Police warned over shifting information to Microsoft cloud services

Police warned of 'very high' privacy risks in shifting sensitive data to Microsoft's cloud, amid a cautious trial in Wellington started in 2023.

By Phil Pennington • 4 min read • Tue, 29th Apr 2025
Man fears being target of identity theft after personal details stolen in cyber attack
Ransomware

Man fears being target of identity theft after personal details stolen in cyber attack

An Auckland man fears identity theft after personal details were stolen from Bloom Hearing Specialists, who kept his data for over six years.

By Phil Pennington • 3 min read • Mon, 7th Oct 2024
National disaster coordination system still on ice
Civil Defence

National disaster coordination system still on ice

Despite 20 years of attempts, New Zealand still lacks an effective disaster coordination system. Locals fear they remain unprepared for the next Cyclone Gabrielle.

By Phil Pennington • 5 min read • Tue, 30th Jul 2024
Government births, deaths and marriages IT project halted
Open source

Government births, deaths and marriages IT project halted

RNZ understands multiple deadlines have been missed after officials tried to buy an off-the-shelf system and customise it.

By Phil Pennington • 4 min read • Fri, 22nd Dec 2023
Identity Check online system pilot launched despite gaps over privacy, rights
Surveillance

Identity Check online system pilot launched despite gaps over privacy, rights

Government's online identity check system raises concerns over human rights, ethics, and Māori engagement. Nationwide pilot underway.

By Phil Pennington • 6 min read • Tue, 22nd Nov 2022
Google says privacy key as NZ Identity Check system planned
Private Cloud

Google says privacy key as NZ Identity Check system planned

Google supports efforts to fix legal stability in data flow and privacy. New Zealand uses Google Analytics in online ID system.

By Phil Pennington • 2 min read • Mon, 7th Nov 2022

Global Stories

Written by Phil Pennington

What Amazon wanted from New Zealand's prime minister
Hyperscale

What Amazon wanted from New Zealand's prime minister

Mega-company Amazon asked Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for help over billion-dollar data centres it is building here, and to have input on policy.

By Phil Pennington • 7 min read • Thu, 29th Dec 2022
Outdoor advertisers using smart technology to reach more customers
Surveillance

Outdoor advertisers using smart technology to reach more customers

Technology that lets outdoor advertisers track people in the street is spreading, though the marketing industry says it is at pains not to invade privacy.

By Phil Pennington • 6 min read • Tue, 13th Dec 2022
Datacentres in NZ: PM's office rejects OIA request on briefings over plans
Hyperscale

Datacentres in NZ: PM's office rejects OIA request on briefings over plans

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern refuses to disclose her discussions with major tech companies regarding data centres in New Zealand.

By Phil Pennington • 2 min read • Tue, 13th Dec 2022
Security fears raised about home devices and apps
Unified Communications

Security fears raised about home devices and apps

Smart devices from various non-Chinese companies are found to have hidden loyalty pledges to the Chinese state in their terms and conditions.

By Phil Pennington • 5 min read • Fri, 28th Oct 2022
Private details of Otago students were exposed by digital fault
Breach Prevention

Private details of Otago students were exposed by digital fault

A digital security breach allowed personal details about most University of Otago students to be viewable to others.

By Phil Pennington • 2 min read • Fri, 21st Oct 2022
Government under pressure to align with EU's data harvesting standards for businesses
Data Protection

Government under pressure to align with EU's data harvesting standards for businesses

New Zealand is under pressure to yield to new European Union demands over how companies harvest people's data.

By Phil Pennington • 4 min read • Tue, 11th Oct 2022