Stories by Phil Pennington
Artificial intelligence a wildcard in electricity demand
Wed, 7th May 2025
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hyperscale
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dc
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power / energy
AI is driving a 60% rise in data centre electricity demand in Auckland, challenging power supply priorities amid $6 billion planned grid investments.
NZ submarine cables are 'attractive espionage targets', officials warn
Tue, 29th Apr 2025
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network infrastructure
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cybersecurity
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transpower
Officials alert PM that submarine cables, vital for vast data transfers, are attractive espionage targets amid global concerns over their security.
Police warned over shifting information to Microsoft cloud services
Tue, 29th Apr 2025
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data protection
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data privacy
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cybersecurity
Police warned of 'very high' privacy risks in shifting sensitive data to Microsoft's cloud, amid a cautious trial in Wellington started in 2023.
Man fears being target of identity theft after personal details stolen in cyber attack
Mon, 7th Oct 2024
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ransomware
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martech
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physical security
An Auckland man fears identity theft after personal details were stolen from Bloom Hearing Specialists, who kept his data for over six years.
National disaster coordination system still on ice
Tue, 30th Jul 2024
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civil defence
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opinion
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new zealand government
Despite 20 years of attempts, New Zealand still lacks an effective disaster coordination system. Locals fear they remain unprepared for the next Cyclone Gabrielle.
Government births, deaths and marriages IT project halted
Fri, 22nd Dec 2023
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open source
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microsoft
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government
RNZ understands multiple deadlines have been missed after officials tried to buy an off-the-shelf system and customise it.
What Amazon wanted from New Zealand's prime minister
Thu, 29th Dec 2022
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hyperscale
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public cloud
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dc
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.
Outdoor advertisers using smart technology to reach more customers
Tue, 13th Dec 2022
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surveillance
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martech
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smart home
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.
Datacentres in NZ: PM's office rejects OIA request on briefings over plans
Tue, 13th Dec 2022
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hyperscale
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dc
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power / energy
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern refuses to disclose her discussions with major tech companies regarding data centres in New Zealand.
Identity Check online system pilot launched despite gaps over privacy, rights
Tue, 22nd Nov 2022
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surveillance
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data privacy
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ministry of social development
Government's online identity check system raises concerns over human rights, ethics, and Māori engagement. Nationwide pilot underway.
Google says privacy key as NZ Identity Check system planned
Mon, 7th Nov 2022
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private cloud
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data analytics
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data privacy
Google supports efforts to fix legal stability in data flow and privacy. New Zealand uses Google Analytics in online ID system.
Security fears raised about home devices and apps
Fri, 28th Oct 2022
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uc
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iot
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ai security
Smart devices from various non-Chinese companies are found to have hidden loyalty pledges to the Chinese state in their terms and conditions.
Private details of Otago students were exposed by digital fault
Fri, 21st Oct 2022
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breach prevention
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cybersecurity
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opinion
A digital security breach allowed personal details about most University of Otago students to be viewable to others.
Government under pressure to align with EU's data harvesting standards for businesses
Tue, 11th Oct 2022
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data protection
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data privacy
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opinion
New Zealand is under pressure to yield to new European Union demands over how companies harvest people's data.
New Zealand cloud provider challenges Google's claims on data control for region
Fri, 12th Aug 2022
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datacentre infrastructure
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data analytics
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martech
A Wellington cloud services provider says Google's claim it will offer New Zealanders complete control over their own data is not true.
Māori data specialists not consulted on facial recognition technology - data sovereignty expert
Thu, 28th Jul 2022
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surveillance
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data analytics
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biometrics
Māori data specialists are accusing the government of ignoring them while going ahead and expanding the reach of facial recognition technology.