Lisa Owen

Oranga Tamariki has cut spending on services to met budget targets without properly assessing what the fall out would be for vulnerable children and their families, including more tamariki in care… Audio

'Timaru Boutique' advertised a closing down sale on Facebook recently - saying that after 10 beautiful years it's closing its doors. But Timaru Boutique doesn't really exist. It has a Facebook page… Audio

How much would you spend on a pie, not one that comes in a bag and is served with tomato sauce, but a posh one? At Hamilton restaurant Thyme Square, the Beef Wellington costs $98. Chef Logan Murray… Audio

In Qatar's capital, Doha, his limo got a special camel escort - but it was his meeting with Syria's new President that has grabbed a lot of the attention with Trump even describing Ahmed Al Sheraa as… Audio

A sweary few days in politics has raised questions about the use of the C word. Minister Brooke van Velden dropped the verbal grenade in Parliament in protest over the slur being directed at her and… Audio

Businesses have a moral obligation and should do their bit and not serve school kids in school uniforms during school hours. The minister in charge of getting absent kids back to class made the… Audio

Kainga Ora doesn't seem to care about dogs being mistreated at their properties or being kept by tenants without proper agreements, according to an Auckland resident who said he's been complaining to… Audio

Three dogs have been put down after they were rescued from a Kianga Ora property where they'd apparently been left locked inside, in filthy rat infested conditions without food or water. In April, the… Audio

At Te Kuiti Hospital, the cleaners double as security guards; covering both jobs when they are on shift. They've had some training and are approved by the Ministry of Justice but for some on the coal… Audio

David Seymour's school lunch programme is now being investigated by the Auditor-General. The watchdog on Tuesday announced plans to look into the programme, citing concerns raised both in the media… Audio

Storms are causing chaos in parts of the motu, grounding flights, forcing businesses to shut and causing evacuations. A local state of emergency has been declared in Christchurch. A local state of… Audio

A patient who has been denied ACC cover after getting pregnant after a doctor failed to re-insert their contraceptice device wants ACC to do better when handling complex cases and not search for a… Audio

United Kingdom correspondent Alice Wilkins spoke to Lisa Owen about the UK Coroner looking into the death of the British tech Billionaire whose superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily last year… Audio

Brace for strong winds and intense downpours - as ex-tropical cyclone Tam lashes large parts of the country. The wild weather's already begun with more than 1000 homes in Northland losing power… Audio

Left with PTSD and depression and feeling demoralised and demeaned. That is the rollercoaster of emotions experienced by a patient who got pregnant and had an abortion after a Doctor failed… Audio

Ecologists have discovered a handful of rare lizards during a top secret gecko census at an undisclosed location south of Auckland. The Raukawa gecko is considered at risk on the mainland  due to… Audio

China's President Xi Jinping is on a charm offensive to drum up business across the region. Checkpoint's correspondent in Taipei, Erin Hale spoke to Lisa Owen.  Audio

There is much a do about piles of doggy do littering a popular Southland walkway. So much so the Conservation department's considering banning pooping pooches from Foveaux walkway near Bluff. It said… Audio

Housing has emerged as the key election battlefield between the major parties in the Australian election campaign ahead of the May 3rd ballot. Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen. Audio

A Northland man's been forced to fashion a prosthetic foot out of back shed bits and bobs after someone pinched the real deal. Russel Blank, had sent his prosthetic foot off for repairs at the… Audio