Podcasts about Lisa Owen

While a bunch of us are winding down for the festive season, others are gearing up for one of their busiest times of the year. Animal shelters are among them. The charity Helping You Help Animals or HUHA is spending its first official Christmas in its new home built on about 150 acres on Haywards Hill near Wellington. It's a full house with 600 animals to look after over the summer break. HUHA founder and chief executive Carolyn Press McKenzie spoke to Lisa Owen.

Asia correspondent Adam Hancock spoke to Lisa Owen about the death of a prominent activist has sparked protests in the capital of Bangladesh, as well as a group of scientists in India who have modelled how bird flu could spread to humans.

'Tis the season for corporate gifts. But have you had one from your KiwiSaver provider? It turns out, some people have been treated to a few early Christmas presents - an umbrella in one case and a bottle of wine for another lucky saver. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds has been looking at what's on offer and spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Black Ferns have a new coach, with Whitney Hansen set to take charge of the side on a two-year deal after the six-time world champions came up short at this year's global showpiece. Sports Reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

Vital lab tests for Gisborne patients are facing unnecessary delays as samples are flown or driven hundreds of kilometres across the country for analysis, according to one union. Apex represents MedLab workers who are currently locked in a pay dispute. It says delays to key diagnostic tests for life threatening conditions like meningitis, leukaemia and antibiotic resistance are because the medical lab at Gisborne is 50 percent owned by a private company that is profit driven. National Secretary for Apex, Deborah Powell spoke to Lisa Owen.

An advisory group set up to tackle retail crime is in the spotlight again over its spending, It was revealed earlier that the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime, or MAG, has spent $100,000 a year for office space in the Auckland CBD, and paid chairman Sunny Kaushal $230,000 for his first year of work. Now documents show MAG has spent over $24,000 on catering and venue hire to run stakeholder engagement meetings around the country. Correspondent Jimmy Ellingham spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Black Caps are still well in control of the third and final test at Mount Maunganui. It's been another profitable period with the bat for the Kiwis who have declared with a mammoth total of 575. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about some of the survivors of the Manchester Arena Bombing receiving some good news, as well as the UK Sports Personality of the Year being announced.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about Australians continuing to grapple with the consequences of this week's Bondi terror attack, with the government there today revealing a series of measures targetting hate speech and antisemitism.

Despite a rain delay, the Black Caps and West Indies are well into their third test at Mt Maunganui's Bay Oval. Meanwhile, Australia are looking to continue their run of dominance over England in the Ashes. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

An open letter to political leaders is calling for them to end visas tied to a single employer, saying they set the stage for potential exploitation and abuse and make it harder for victims to escape. The letter's signed by the Human Rights Commission and 26 others including migrant support groups, the Salvation Army, Community law, the Council of Trade unions and modern slavery experts. Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Professor Gail Pacheco spoke to Lisa Owen.

The boss of Corrections has repeatedly broken the law by denying prisoners their basic right to an hour of exercise outside their cells every day, according to High Court ruling. It ordered chief executive, Jeremy Lightfoot to comply or risk being in contempt of court which could result in a fine or jail. Auckland prison inmates complained they've frequently been denied their daily hour of exercise, while Corrections argued staff shortages, safety constraints and a lack of facilities prevented exercise unlocks. Correction's Commissioner of Custodial Services, Leigh Marsh spoke to Lisa Owen.

The school in the secretive west coast christian community, Gloriavale, is effectively being closed down.The Secretary for Education anounced she is cancelling Gloriavale Christian School's registration effective from the 23 of January. Lawyer Brian Henry, who has represented Gloriavale leavers and called for the school to be shut down, spoke to Lisa Owen.

New Zealand Netball's nightmare year continues. After the highly publicised standing down and reinstatement of Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua, CEO Jennie Wyllie has now resigned. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about Robert Reiner's son making his first appearance in court following the alleged murder of the famed Hollywood director, as well as the FBI's deputy director stepping down.

Homeware retail giant IKEA appears to be a victim of its own success. It's shutting down its customer support centre from tomorrow for the rest of the week so that its team can focus entirely on rebooking customer orders and resolving outstanding cases. But now some customers are dealing with repeated delivery delays and wrangling over payments & tech issues. Long-time IKEA customer Pete Targett is in queue for a delivery and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Cuts to a government transport subsidy scheme for disabled people will cost people who can least afford it and shrink their lives, according to a disability support service. The Transport and Disability Issues Ministers revealed the proposal yesterday to reduce the current subsidy from 75 percent to 65 percent. Discounts on public transport fares, which can vary between regions, will be cut by 10 percent. Chief executive of disability advocacy group Aspire Canterbury, Chris Davis spoke to Lisa Owen.

A store selling well known brands through infomercials has been found guilty of falsifying customer product reviews; getting staff who had ever used the goods to pen positive write ups. The TV shop has been convicted of 13 charges of breaching the fair trading act over nearly four years. The court found the parent company misled customers about the popularity and quality of its good, effectively using staff posing as real customers. It also erased genuine negative reviews. The Commerce Commission's Deputy Chair Anne Callinan spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Bondi massacre didn't happen in a vacuum; social media is radicalising, incubating and amplifying intolerance and hate and needs to be regulated like drugs and alcohol, according to an expert in collective behaviour from Auckland University's School of Psychology. Fifteen people were killed in the mass shooting at a Jewish Hannukah celebration at the Sydney Beach at the weekend. In the aftermath fake social media posts and misinformation around the Bondi shooting have been all over the internet. Honorary senior lecturer at Auckland University's School of Psychology, Robert Bartholomew spoke to Lisa Owen.

It promised to revolutionise track and field athletics, but instead, Olympic sprinting great Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track has collapsed after just one season. The league filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US last week. Court documents released today reveal it owes tens of millions of dollars to creditors - including some of the sport's biggest names. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen

Asia correspondent Adam Hancock spoke to Lisa Owen about revelations that the father and son at the centre of the Bondi terror attack recently visited the Philippines to apparently receive "military-style training".

Some parents are turning to the gift of a so-called dumb phone this Christmas to limit their children's access to social media. That's a phone that you make calls and send texts on, but they can't hook up to the internet. Emma Planicka teaches digital safety to schools and parents and spoke to Lisa Owen.

It's not going to get any cheaper to put on a Christmas feast with all the trimmings. Infometrics has been tracking the cost of a classic Christmas meal for a few years now and the figures are stark. Chief executive and principal economist Brad Olsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Black Caps missed out on the major money at last night's annual IPL auction. A total of eight kiwis were picked up by franchises, joining the other four already contracted to teams. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

UK correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the BBC vowing to defend itself in defamation lawsuit brought by US President Donald Trump, as well as a warning being issued for some Dubai-style chocolate lover.

Several Kiwi cricketers are vying for a life changing pay day this evening. A host of Black Caps have entered the Indian Premier League auction in Abu Dhabi, giving themselves a chance to become overnight millionaires. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

2.5 million passengers will travel through Auckland Airport in its busiest five weeks of the year. Travel can be a great joy but also a legal minefield; who covers costs with a cancellation, what if you get bumped from a flight that is over booked, and what's the deal if the replacement flight is more expensive. Jessica Walker from Consumer NZ spoke to Lisa Owen with tips for travellers.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about the death of legendary Hollywood director Rob Reiner, as well as the hunt continuing for a suspect on the deadly Brown University shooting.

The Ashes are attracting as many headlines off the field, as on it. England coach Brendon McCullum is defending his team's time-out at the beach, as they prepare for the third Test against Australia. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

Professor Zachariah Q Wigglebottom is Aoteaoa's only certified hedgehog pest detection dog and its a busy time of year for him right now. They might look cute but DOC says hedgehogs hoover up the eggs of native birds, lizards, the rare giant native centipeded, weta and other rare insects. Wigglebottom's handler, Adriana Theobald spoke to Lisa Owen about the work they do.

Nicola Willis is doubling down on her strategy for getting the government's books back in order - even as new forecasts show yet another delay to that plan. Treasury officials unveiled their half-year update this afternoon - revealing a bleaker picture than last predicted - and no sign of a surplus this decade. A year ago they were predicting a surplus by 2029 - now they're picking 2030. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.

Several guide dogs and their handlers have been attacked by roaming or out control dogs in the four weeks. Blind Low Vision New Zeaand says there are parts of South Auckland where they're no longer placing guide dogs because of the risk of attacks. Blind Low Vision NZ chief executive Andrea Midgen spoke to Lisa Owen about how uncontrolled dogs mean some people are missing out on guide dogs.

The man hailed as a hero for disarming one of the Bondi Beach gunmen has spoken for the first time from his hospital bed. Ahmed Al Ahmed was shot multiple times after he rushed one of the attackers and wrestled the gun off him. Two gunmen were targeting people celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. 15 victims were killed and dozens injured.  Meanwhile, Australia's national cabinet has unanimously agreed to bolster rules around gun ownership in the wake of the Sunday's terrorist attack. Charlotte Cook spoke to Lisa Owen from Sydney. 

As mourning for the victims of Sunday's Bondi shooting attack continues for a second day - Australia appears set to implement tougher gun controls as investigations reveal more details about the actions of the two gunmen. Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen.

The terror attack in Sydney has left New Zealand's Jewish community on edge. Some security measures have been ramped up. In the Auckland suburb of Remuera, police were patrolling outside a Jewish school and associated deli cafe. Phillippa Yasbek from New Zealand Jews against Occupation spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Jacob Brown talks to Lisa Owen about the reaction in Israel to the fatal terror attack on the Jewish community at Bondi Beach.

A New Zealander caught up in the mass shooting at Sydney's bondi beach says dozens of people rushed into the restaurant where her family was dining and started diving under tables; too shocked to explain what was happening. Donna Corbel spoke to Lisa Owen.

NZ Post chief operating officer Brendon Main talks to Lisa Owen about the 10 million parcels being delivered in the two weeks leading up to Christmas Eve.

A late kiwi sporting legend has had his burial site repeatedly desecrated. The graves of Bruce McLaren and his wife, Patricia were vandalised in Glen Eden yesterday, just three months after they were first targeted. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Last month Air New Zealand flight 946 from Auckland to Rarotonga got all the way to its island destination but could not land despite best efforts because of strong cross winds. Instead it had to head back to Auckland. Passengers on board got an email that the flight was being diverted due to weather, outlining compensation for some transit customers for accommodation and meals. British-American traveller Karen Chapman was on the flight but says Air New Zealand declined to reimburse her costs. Karen spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen about the Australian Olympic Committee announcing new funding that allows athletes, who have given birth, to access a several thousand-dollar bonus - as long as they return to high performance sport.

Many parts of the country have been hitting temperatures in the high 20s - and even well into the 30s. So what's the best way to cool your house down without seeing your power bill soar? Is a heat pump the way to go? Or should you just make do with a good old rotating fan? Money correspondent Susan Edmunds spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Black Caps have taken a one-nil lead in the three-match test series against the West Indies after a nine wicket win in Wellington. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe was at the Basin Reserve and spoke to Lisa Owen.

There is a renewed call for universal free cervical cancer screening in a bid to eradicate the disease. The State of Cancer report released yesterday shows Aotearoa has not meet its cervical screening target. Currently the cervical cancer screening programme, including self testing for the HPV is not free for everyone. The National Centre For Women's Health Research says that needs to change if we are to eliminate the disease. Centre Founder Professor Bev Lawton spoke to Lisa Owen.

Parents caught up in the play sand asbestos contamination scare are increasingly frustrated with retailer Kmart refusing to cover their testing and clean up costs. Several of the coloured play sands have been voluntarily recalled after some of them tested positive for asbestos. Some parents have paid for the play sand to be tested and results have come back positive. But Kmart is refusing to reimburse for the costs of that and any clean up. Lecturer in Law at Auckland University of Technology, Christopher Whitehead spoke to Lisa Owen.

Three companies have been fined a total of $345,000 for their part in a landslip that swamped a Queenstown cemetery and forced dozens of nearby residents to evacuate their homes during the region's wettest day in decades. Skyline Enterprises, which owns the gondola, along with contractors Naylor Love Central Otago and Wilsons Contractors, were charged with breaching the Resource Management Act by Queenstown-Lakes District Council. Reporter Adam Burns was at the sentencing and spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about NATO's Chief issuing a stark warning for the west, as well as outrage over how much it is going to cost to support England at the World Cup.

NZTA is reducing speed limits on several sections of a popular holiday route in time for Christmas. Four sections of State Highway 25 will drop to 50 kilometres from 80 or 70 kilometres. Waka Kotahi says there were 982 submissions on the speed review in the Coromandel region and the majority saw benefits in lowering the speed limits. Linda Davidson owns a bed and breakfast on one stretch of road where the speed limit is reducing and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Athletes have been put through their paces today at the Special Olympics National Summer Games on in Christchurch. It's the first day of competition - over the next four days, more than 1200 competitors will take part in 10 different sports. Cameron Easton was just eight when he participated at the special Olympic games as a swimmer. But he has since turned his hand to Bocce, the Italian lawn bowling game. His mum Vivian is the coach of the Horowhenua Bocce team and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about a legal case that's underway that could have far-reaching implications for the gaming industry across the Tasman - with a jailed problem gambler who stole to finance his addiction suing three of the country's biggest online betting agencies.