Podcasts about Lisa Owen

United Kingdom correspondent Alice Wilkins spoke to Lisa Owen about the UK signing a deal to hand control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, the Bank HSBC telling it's UK staff they have to work from home less and how the water quality at two of London's summer swimming spots isn't looking so flash. 

Michael Mayne has been confirmed as the Football Ferns' new head coach becoming their first New Zealand-born coach in more than 20 years. Mayne has been the interim coach since last year and has signed on to the permanent role through to the 2027 Women's World Cup. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

More than 90-truck loads of humanitarian aid have made it into Gaza, after an almost three month blockade by Israel. The aid, including flour, baby food and medical equipment, has been taken to warehouses for distribution. The BBC reports some bakeries been able to make bread again. But aid agencies say it's nowhere near enough. On average 500 supply trucks a day entered Gaza before the war. Rachael Cummings, the Humanitarian Director for Save the Children spoke to Lisa Owen.

There is confusion over whether police are using a financial threshold to decide whether they investigate crimes like shoplifting and financial scams. Checkpoint has seen a document that lays out nationally standardised value thresholds for certain crimes. Shoplifting is $500, Petrol drive offs are $150 and fraud, paywave and online scams are $1000. National Retail investigation support manager Matt Tierney spoke to Lisa Owen.

Some people will be able to get a 12 month long prescription instead of the current three month maximum under changes announced in the budget. The health minister said it will cut costs for patients and cut paper work that is taking health professionals away from more urgent or complex needs. Dr Fergus Aitcheson from Three Rivers Medical, the biggest GP clinic in Gisborne spoke to Lisa Owen.

US rugby star Ilona Maher shot to prominence at the Olympics last year and has amassed a vast social media following, which translated into a big media turnout yesterday down on Auckland's waterfront for a pre game photo shoot. Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

Asia correspondent Erin Hale spoke to Lisa Owen about North Korea's leader Kim Jung un being unhappy about a bungled launch of a warship, South Korea's election prompting a change at Starbucks and how Four British soldiers have set a record climbing Mt Everest without acclimatising and using a special kind of gas.

But people across the motu have been travelling to Auckland's Northwest to wait in line for something a little bit more unconventional: butter. The bargain butter at Auckland's Costco is bringing in the crowds to buy it in bulk. Some are even resorting to sleeping overnight outside because it is half the price of getting it from the supermarkets. The supermarket price is up to $11 for half a kilo - whereas Costco's butter is just under $10 kilo. Bella Craig reports. Dave O'Brien, co-owner of Bellbird Bakery in Christchurch spoke to Lisa Owen.

The government is halving its contribution to Kiwisaver shifting the financial load onto business. The change will be phased. At the moment people over 18 can get up to $521 in government contributions if they contribute $1040 dollars per year themselves. That will drop to just over $260 of government contributions. People earning over a $180,000 a year will get nothing. Tax expert Terry Baucher spoke to Lisa Owen.

Heather Roy, the former deputy leader of the ACT party, Stuart Nash a former Labour MP, who was Minister for Police, Tourism and Economic and Regional Development in the last Labour government and Gareth Hughes the Director of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa, and who was Green MP for a decade spoke to Lisa Owen about the 2025 Budget.

Swimmers, runners and weight-lifters who are using banned performance-enhancing drugs will take part in the first Enhanced Games next year. The controversial event will take place in Las Vegas and has the backing of Olympians and billionaires. The World Anti-Doping Agency staunchly opposes the project, warning athletes that they risk bans and their health. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Out of work 18 to 19 year olds may be forced to rely on mum and dad for financial support with the government planning to effectively means test parents of unemployed teenagers before allowing young people to collect a benefit. From July 2027 there will be a parental assistance test for job seekers and emergency benefits. The government said it's a human tragedy that people under 25 on jobseeker support will spend an average of 18 years on the benefit over their lifetimes. The Salvation Army's Director of Social Policy Bonnie Robinson spoke to Lisa Owen.

Out of work 18 to 19 year olds may be forced to rely on mum and dad for financial support with the government planning to effectively means test parents of unemployed teenagers before allowing young people to collect a benefit. From July 2027 there will be a parental assistance test for job seekers and emergency benefits. The government said it's a human tragedy that people under 25 on jobseeker support will spend an average of 18 years on the benefit over their lifetimes. The Salvation Army's Director of Social Policy Bonnie Robinson spoke to Lisa Owen.

The government's halving its contribution to kiwisaver. Businesses will have to up theirs from 3 to 4 percent over time. They get a tax break in return. Theres an average $14 a fortnight increase to working for families, for low and middle income households. Changes to the pay equity law are saving the government 2.7 billion dollars a year. Finance Minister Nicola Willis spoke to Lisa Owen. 

In its budget the coalition's clawed back money from three main areas - Pay equity, Kiwisaver and Best Start payments. The bulk of the 5.3 billion dollars saved - in fact about half of it - has come from the pay equity overhaul. 2.7 billion dollars a year, re-distributed to other priorities. Deputy Political reporter Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Alice Wilkins spoke to Lisa Owen about how the first pieces of a superyacht that capsized off the coast of Italy with Kiwis on board, have been brought to the surface and how a flight to the spanish party island of Ibiza as been described as "hell" because of some rowdy passengers. She also spoke about how a British endurance athlete said he's broken the record for running across the width of Australia.

Olympian Erika Fairweather has moved to a new city, with a new coach and new training partners as she sets her sights on getting on the podium in Los Angeles in 2028. Fairweather will be competing her in new home pool - the National Aquatic Centre in Albany - during the national swimming championships. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A boxing promoter is calling for law changes to cover emerging combat sports that are going virtually unregulated. It comes as one well known MMA fighter is recruiting 32 fighter to take part in what he describes as one minute scraps, the ultimate winner to crowned king of the streets. In a series of social media posts Dan "Hangman" Hooker describes the tournament as boxing but with MMA gloves and said it's winner takes all with a prize of $50,000. Craig Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen.

The government's announced 140 million dollars to help boost school attendance as it battles to reach its target of 80 percent of students at school for 90 percent of the term by 2030. As part of that the Associate Education Minister David Seymour's been talking to people working to keep kids in class. At a recent press conference he name dropped one in particular, Philippa Dravitski from Freyberg High School in Palmerston North. Dravitski spoke to Lisa Owen.

The US women's rugby team will be without one of its key players for this weekend's Pacific Four clash against the Black Ferns following a judicial ruling. US centre Alev Kelter has been handed a three-match ban for stomping on the head of her Australian opposite in the Wallaroos' win. But many believe Kelter should be spending more time on the sidelines. Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

As of May last year Auckland Council had removed more than 2300 public rubbish bins as a cost cutting measure. Auckland Council's website describes Musick Point as an 8 hectare reserve near Buckland's Beach, with spectacular views over the Hauraki Gulf. But locals are concerned the vista is being blighted by an increase in rubbish dumped around the reserve, a problem they believe is linked to a lack of bins. Liz Domett spoke to Lisa Owen.

Asia correspondent Erin Hale spoke to Lisa Owen about Japan's rice crisis, Kanye West getting cancelled in South Korea and how a British climber has broken his own record by scaling Mt Everest for the 19th time.

A Wellington worker's heated exchange with Winston Peters at a very public press conference has landed him hot water with his employer, who happens to do a fair bit of work for the government. The heckler was wearing a lanyard that identified his employer as engineering company Tonkin and Taylor. It raises a heap of questions about what people can and can't say when they are off the clock. Employment law specialist Jennifer Mills spoke to Lisa Owen.

Former Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum said the England Test team is ready to "shoot for the stars". England will play Test series against cricket heavyweights India and Australia later this year, in what could be a defining summer for the side. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen. 

After a humiliating election defeat, the historic coalition between the Liberal Party and the National Party has imploded. The extraordinary split between the two conservative parties leaves Australia without a united and effective opposition, meaning that on their own, have no hope of beating Labor at the next election in three years time. Australia correspondent Peter Ryan spoke to Lisa Owen.

A man from Taranaki has been making a side hustle out of delivering cut price groceries from the giant wholesaler to New Plymouth hundreds of kilometres away. Kaleb Halverson spoke to Lisa Owen.

Some security guards at Waikato Hospital have expired qualifcations, while others lack critical training. That is according to a senior security officer and licenced private investigator who resigned from the Waikato Hospital security team last month. Te Whatu Ora requires contracted security guards to have a current Level Two certificate of approval, but not security staff it employs directly. Steve Buckland spoke to Lisa Owen.

Last year the government announced it's progressively lowering eligibility for free bowel cancer screening to 58 years old, down from 60. It also ended a pilot programme that allowed Maori and Pasifika to access bowel screening at 50. That's despite Christopher Luxon's pre-election promise to match Australia's screening age of 45 years old. Rachael Ferguson spoke to Lisa Owen. 

32 fighters, no pros, no weight limits, winner takes all; with a prize pot of $50,000. It's being billed as a battle to be "king of the streets." The tournament is being heavily promoted by Dan "Hangman" Hooker a professional mixed martial arts fighter and former kick boxer. Hooker said it will be boxing but in MMA gloves. They are lighter weight and offer less protection than actual boxing gloves. President of the NZ Boxing Coaches Association Billy Meehan spoke to Lisa Owen. 

A staff member at Massey University couldn't pay his rent when he didn't receive his salary after the introduction of a new payroll system at the institution. The man then had to show proof of the payroll mixup to his disbelieving landlord. RNZ has spoken with university staff affected by payroll problems, which they say are causing financial stress. Reporter Jimmy Ellingham spoke to Lisa Owen.

The United States President has held a rare phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine. Trump has described the call as "excellent" but Putin seemed less enthusiastic. US correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen.

If you're a baker, or just like to smear it on your toast in the morning, you've probably noticed the price of butter steadily climbing in recent months. But there is one place where prices haven't risen so much - and where people can get butter much more cheaply than in other supermarkets. It's Costco, in Auckland's north-west. Money Correspondent Susan Edmunds spoke to Lisa Owen.

Political parties are preparing for what could be a protracted debate tomorrow surrounding the proposed penalties for three Te Pāti Māori MPs. Parliament's Privileges Committee recommended the party's co-leaders be suspended for an unprecedented 21 days for breaking the rules with a haka. MPs will tomorrow consider the proposal - but the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he's not willing to compromise. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Panthers were given until the end of the day on Monday to meet specific conditions to avoid being ejected from the National Basketball League. Tensions flared up three weeks ago when Panthers players refused to take the court in protest over delayed payments. Sports Reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

Former United States president Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. His personal office revealed in a statement that the 82-year-old was seen by doctors with afurinary symptoms. US correspondent Todd Zwilich spoke to Lisa Owen.

There are concerns that tens of millions of dollars being injected into after hours urgent care services won't make treatment any cheaper for patients who will still be paying to go to private after hours clinic. The government has announced 164 million dollar over four years in Budget 2025 to expand urgent and after-hours healthcare services across the country. Northland Emergency doctor Gary Payinda spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Jacob Brown spoke to Lisa Owen about how Israel has revealed that it's rapidly expanding its military offensive in Gaza, and how it's already having a devastating impact on Palestinians in the Strip. He also spoke about how there's been an indication that Israel might start letting aid in to the Gaza Strip and about the latest round of ceasefire negotiations.

Auckland War Memorial Museum is is losing thousands of dollars a day after being forced to close its doors because an asbestos scare. It's been closed since the tenth of May after the asbestos dust was found in Te Marae Atea Maori Court and the Pacific Galleries. Following swab tests it was discovered in the Grand Foyer - which makes things more complicated because that is a major evacuation route. Chief Executive of Auckland Museum, David Reeves spoke to Lisa Owen.

Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea has already been named Super Rugby Pacific player of the year, despite there being two more games in the regular season. RNZ's Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

There are no guarantees patient fees will get any cheaper despite a government funding boost for after hours and urgent care. The government said it will be working toward a more consistent clearer fees framework nationwide, but has not committed to making visits cheaper. Tamaki Health CEO, Dr Lloyd Mcann spoke to Lisa Owen.

Elite online private school, Crimson Global Academy has trialled a four day week for all its online students in Term One. A survey of students and teachers has showed strong support for it, ditching the classroom on Day Five, so they are sticking with it. About 85 percent of students said they were able to stay on top of the work and about same percentage of teachers expressed optimism for the the long term benefits. Crimson Global Academy's Deputy Principal Ronan Kearney spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Alice Wilkins spoke to Lisa Owen about the UK Government set to host EU leaders in London, in the first summit since Brexit and how criminals in the UK could soon be spending their sentences filling in potholes. She also spoke about how Sir Elton John said the UK Government are 'absolute losers' because of decisions around artificial intelligence.

Wairarapa police are urging to people to dial 111 if they suspect car theives are at work after a significant jump in the number of vehicles being nicked in the district. 29 cars have been stolen in the area in the past two weeks, 25 of them in Masterton. Wairarapa Area Prevention manager Senior Sergeant Gill Flower spoke to Lisa Owen.

Checkpoint is aware of two customers who've been turned away from VTNZ because inspectors deemed their cars too dirty, with dog hair. Lynne was going for a Warrant of Fitness but the fallout from her dog was apparently too much for the inspector at the Kingsland testing station. Another customer Anna's son failed his restricted drivers license test as there was dog hair and sand in the car. Anna spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Alice Wilkins spoke to Lisa Owen about the man arrested over a number of fires at properties connected to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer being due to appear in court and how UK police are going door to door in East London, in an attempt to track down the parents of three babies, all siblings, who were abandoned over a seven year period. She also spoke about how wealthy Britons are avoiding tax than what was thought, according to the country's watch dog.

Auckland FC kick off their A-League semi-finals campaign on Saturday in enemy territory. They'll take on the Melbourne Victory as Auckland have chosen to take the first leg of the home and away series on the road. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen from Melbourne.

Woolworths claims supermarket competition is intense in New Zealand despite conceding the top two players still have about eighty percent of the market. It claims contrary to popular misconceptions, New Zealand's grocery prices are cheaper than those in the UK and Australia, but the snag is only taking GST out of the equation. Woolworths has released a paper with its take on competition in response to government moves to crack down on the supermarket duopoly. Woolworths New Zealand interim managing director is Pieter de Wet spoke to Lisa Owen.

Popular getaway destination Waiheke Island's has just welcomed a group of VIPs, but they're more than just weekend visitors. Ten Kiwi have been released on the eastern side of Waiheke, Te Motuaarairoa, the most isolated side of the island. It's still the first urban Auckland area to have the national icon reintroduced. Save the Kiwi CEO Michelle Impey spoke to Lisa Owen.

A couple of blockbuster kiwi derbies could well determine how the remainder of the Super season shapes up, while the Black ferns clash with the Canadians in Christchurch. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Asia correspondent Erin Hale spoke to Lisa Owen about India killing 31 Maoist rebels, how 17 arrest warrants have been issued over the Bangkok building collapse and Bloomberg writing about how Gen Z is helping China's economy with emotional consumption.