Lisa Owen

Claims of dirty politics, cries of anger and disgust, and clear bitter division. The usually circumspect arena of the Otago Regional Council chamber had it all this morning, as three-quarters of… Audio

Meanwhile residents in Hamish Walker's electorate are shocked he's behind the leak of Covid-19 patient details to media. Hamish Walker won nearly 60 percent of MP votes in the last election - but a… Audio

The National Party is in damage control mode, and urgently looking for a new candidate for its Southland electorate. It comes after MP Hamish Walker confessed to leaking the personal details of 18… Audio

A Countdown branch was closed today as a precaution after a positive Covid-19 case entered its doors. Kiri Hannifin is the spokesperson for the supermarket chain and joins us now. Audio

Winter has ramped up a gear -- as temperatures plummeted across the country today. While the southerly blast has been tough on drivers and farmers, it's been welcomed by skiers - just in time for the… Audio

The Government is pouring money into upgrading the country's drinking, storm and wastewater systems. An investment of $761 million was announced in Havelock North today. But councils will have to sign… Audio

The Australian prime minister Scott Morrison has once again downplayed the likelihood of a travel bubble with New Zealand anytime soon. As Melbourne prepares to go into lockdown, he says stopping the… Audio

The New South Wales premier has signalled she may lockdown towns on the Victorian border if people don't follow the strict border closure rules that came in last night. And at midnight tonight - the… Audio

News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

Small businesses in the tourist town of Waitomo are crying foul over big government handouts being passed on to larger operators - while they struggle to survive. Discover Waitomo, one of the town's… Video, Audio

The Minister in charge of Managed Isolation & Quarantine, Megan Woods, speaks to us about the 32-year-old man who did a runner last night from managed isolation. Video, Audio

There are calls for tighter security in managed isolation after a man who tested positive for Covid 19 escaped a hotel to visit a supermarket. A security guard was watching as the man left the… Audio

Matamata locals have been desperately trying to rescue a curious and possibly greedy local cat that went all Winnie the Pooh on it and got his head firmly stuck in a peanut butter jar - that was about… Video, Audio

Community sport and national leagues are the major winners from the first tranche of funding announced today from the Government's $265 million dollar Sport Recovery Package. $68 million is going into… Audio

A freeze on Air New Zealand flights coming back into the country is expected to affect thousands of kiwis trying to get home over the coming weeks. The airline and the Government have agreed to put… Audio

National's Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker has confirmed he leaked the personal details of Covid-19 patients to the media. Former National Party president and acting CEO of the Auckland Rescue… Video, Audio

The Islamic Women's Council says the last year's mosque attacks may never have happened if the Government listened to its concerns about rising hostility towards Muslims. The council has publicly… Video, Audio

The Southern DHB is pushing for Dunedin and Invercargill to be used for managed isolation ahead of Queenstown, due to concerns about its lack of medical facilities. The DHB has been meeting today to… Audio

Locals and their leaders in Victoria and New South Wales border towns say they're still in the dark as to how they'll live their lives under the strict border closures coming into force at midnight… Audio