Paula Penfold
@paulapenfold.bsky.social
Drafting first histories.
Here’s a Saturday long read for you 🌸
‘Chillingly familiar’: Why the McSkimming report hit hard for sex workers and a waitress
The scathing IPCA report on police handling of complaints about Jevon McSkimming has resurfaced concerns in two high profile cases
www.stuff.co.nz
November 21, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Here’s a Saturday long read for you 🌸
Everything ok at the Covid Inquiry?
Covid Inquiry hit by yet another top-level resignation
Inquiry boss quits only months into the job - the second executive director to resign this year
www.stuff.co.nz
November 19, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Everything ok at the Covid Inquiry?
Seems like a risky approach to recruitment 🤔
Latest (final?) chapter in the story of Fale Andrew Lesā.
Latest (final?) chapter in the story of Fale Andrew Lesā.
No checks, no referees: How a man who embellished his CV became a Visiting Justice
New documents show the steps that led to Fale Andrew Lesā being approved for justice roles - and how officials responded when questions were raise
www.stuff.co.nz
November 16, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Seems like a risky approach to recruitment 🤔
Latest (final?) chapter in the story of Fale Andrew Lesā.
Latest (final?) chapter in the story of Fale Andrew Lesā.
Behind the scenes of one of the biggest weeks in news I can remember
The truth came out this week
But not on its own
open.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Behind the scenes of one of the biggest weeks in news I can remember
Tapping perfectly into our collective insecurity
“I’m Lenny Kravitz and I’m never leaving New Zealand.”
“I’m Lenny Kravitz and I’m never leaving New Zealand.”
November 15, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Tapping perfectly into our collective insecurity
“I’m Lenny Kravitz and I’m never leaving New Zealand.”
“I’m Lenny Kravitz and I’m never leaving New Zealand.”
Latest from the McSkimming files
Top police executive who ‘did not disclose’ McSkimming material for reference now works for Justice
A former senior police employee who the IPCA found failed to disclose relevant information in a McSkimming reference now works for the Ministry of Justice
www.stuff.co.nz
November 14, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Latest from the McSkimming files
Further fallout in wake of damning IPCA McSkimming report
McSkimming scandal fallout: Aviation boss ‘on leave’ following bombshell report
Former Police Deputy Commissioner Chris de Wattignar was criticised for his handling of concerns about his colleague. Now he’s on leave from another government agency.
www.stuff.co.nz
November 13, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Further fallout in wake of damning IPCA McSkimming report
Police response now in this story. “Proper process has been followed.”
November 12, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Police response now in this story. “Proper process has been followed.”
Expecting comment from police on this today
Police say they 'let down' McSkimming complainant - but are still charging her over emails to another cop
Police apologise to Ms Z but continue with prosecution against her
www.stuff.co.nz
November 12, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Expecting comment from police on this today
These are the five senior officers who come in for the most criticism in the IPCA report on the McSkimming scandal.
Revealed: The five senior officers at the heart of the McSkimming 'cover-up'
The IPCA report on the handling of the McSkimming case identifies a string of complicit senior officers. So who are they?
www.stuff.co.nz
November 12, 2025 at 5:24 AM
These are the five senior officers who come in for the most criticism in the IPCA report on the McSkimming scandal.
Honestly, the IPCA report into the police (mis)handling of the McSkimming case makes for jaw-dropping reading.
But it’s 135 pages long so I’ve read it for you.
Here’s my report on one of the most serious failures of integrity in modern policing history⬇️⬇️
But it’s 135 pages long so I’ve read it for you.
Here’s my report on one of the most serious failures of integrity in modern policing history⬇️⬇️
The inside story of how police protected a senior cop, and prosecuted his accuser instead
For years, police leadership ignored warnings about Jevon McSkimming. The IPCA has set out the chain of failures.
www.stuff.co.nz
November 11, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Honestly, the IPCA report into the police (mis)handling of the McSkimming case makes for jaw-dropping reading.
But it’s 135 pages long so I’ve read it for you.
Here’s my report on one of the most serious failures of integrity in modern policing history⬇️⬇️
But it’s 135 pages long so I’ve read it for you.
Here’s my report on one of the most serious failures of integrity in modern policing history⬇️⬇️
The stats analysis is in on the impact of the 2023 “more aggressive” policy change re police pursuits
He was 15 when he died in a car crash. The rules said police could chase. Should they?
A new study finds when police loosened pursuit rules, crashes rose sharply.
www.stuff.co.nz
November 10, 2025 at 6:37 PM
The stats analysis is in on the impact of the 2023 “more aggressive” policy change re police pursuits
Brb just gonna figure this out
November 1, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Brb just gonna figure this out
Excellent from the New York Times editorial board. Its restraint makes it all the more chilling. Facts is facts.
Are We Losing Our Democracy? www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Are We Losing Our Democracy? www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Opinion | In Trump’s America, Are We Losing Our Democracy? (Gift Article)
Donald Trump has wielded power as no previous president has.
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Excellent from the New York Times editorial board. Its restraint makes it all the more chilling. Facts is facts.
Are We Losing Our Democracy? www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Are We Losing Our Democracy? www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
I was trying to figure out who the guy on RNZ right now reminds me of and realised it’s Tom Sainsbury’s instagram
October 27, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I was trying to figure out who the guy on RNZ right now reminds me of and realised it’s Tom Sainsbury’s instagram
This story was devastating to write. Imagine what it was like to live it.
'He begged for pain relief': The story of a boy who was failed by his carers before he died
Oranga Tamariki apologises to the family of a teenager: “There were failings in how we cared for you”
www.stuff.co.nz
October 24, 2025 at 4:45 PM
This story was devastating to write. Imagine what it was like to live it.
If only people who were talented could just stick to their talents.
I’m sorry. I’m also not sorry
On deception and redemption
open.substack.com
October 19, 2025 at 6:42 AM
If only people who were talented could just stick to their talents.
In Friday afternoon news …
Fale Andrew Lesā said he was a UN Diplomat. He wasn't. Now he's lost his jobs
Justice appointee removed following Stuff investigation that claims he’d made about himself weren’t true.
www.stuff.co.nz
October 17, 2025 at 2:21 AM
In Friday afternoon news …
Every year hundreds of New Zealand families experience perinatal loss. There’s a plan to build a nationwide system to give grieving whānau the support they need.
But the plan’s authors are so exasperated by how slowly things are moving, they have taken the unusual step of going public.
But the plan’s authors are so exasperated by how slowly things are moving, they have taken the unusual step of going public.
'We were sitting in hell': The parents gave birth knowing their baby had died - the help they were promised never arrived
A detailed national plan to support parents after baby loss was delivered to Health NZ in June. Four months on, nothing has changed
www.stuff.co.nz
October 12, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Every year hundreds of New Zealand families experience perinatal loss. There’s a plan to build a nationwide system to give grieving whānau the support they need.
But the plan’s authors are so exasperated by how slowly things are moving, they have taken the unusual step of going public.
But the plan’s authors are so exasperated by how slowly things are moving, they have taken the unusual step of going public.
I am forever impressed and appreciative of people’s willingness to tell their stories 🤍
Chasing the losses
They lost everything. Now more is at stake.
open.substack.com
October 11, 2025 at 7:16 AM
I am forever impressed and appreciative of people’s willingness to tell their stories 🤍
I did some work for Paddy Gower Has Issues on the Online Casino Gambling Bill. Fair to say addicts think licensing 15 casinos here, who can advertise, is not a great idea.
Million dollar habit: Kieren quit drinking. But this addiction is harder to break
The Government plans to open the online gambling market to 15 new operators. Those who’ve lived with addiction say: don’t do it.
www.stuff.co.nz
October 7, 2025 at 6:40 PM
I did some work for Paddy Gower Has Issues on the Online Casino Gambling Bill. Fair to say addicts think licensing 15 casinos here, who can advertise, is not a great idea.
After the story.
After the story
The news moves on. The people don’t.
open.substack.com
October 5, 2025 at 5:39 PM
After the story.
Have just sent a fresh round of questions off to Vietnam’s Embassy and Foreign Ministry but if past experience is anything to go by 🦗 🦗🦗
Chief victims advisor wants answers over failed extradition case
The unsuccessful attempt to extradite two Vietnamese officials accused of indecent assault is facing scrutiny from the chief victims advisor
www.stuff.co.nz
October 3, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Have just sent a fresh round of questions off to Vietnam’s Embassy and Foreign Ministry but if past experience is anything to go by 🦗 🦗🦗