Leonard Powell

Auckland

Program Producer at Radio New Zealand (RNZ)

Reporter for @FirstUpRNZ @radionz Story ideas welcome! [email protected] Music also @leonardpowelll

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Articles

Starting the day with a splash for 29 years

2 months ago | rnz.co.nz | Leonard Powell

There's something in the water at the West Wave aquatic centre in Auckland. On the morning that First Up visits, cars are flooding into the car park, and 25 people are queuing outside the automatic door, which springs open at 5:30am on the dot. Inside at the far end of the pools, Sue Pilkington is getting ready to coach her first group of the day. She has been coaching here for 29 years, and despite the early hour, is full of beans.
Tornado clean-up continues: 'We've let the light in'

2 months ago | rnz.co.nz | Leonard Powell

Mangawhai residents are still cleaning up the damage caused by the tornado that ripped through the coastal community north of Auckland in the early hours of 26 January. The storm hit at 3am on that Sunday morning, with power cut to about 5000 homes, and two people taken to hospital in a serious condition. Two weeks later, First Up visited the neighbourhood and talked to Noreen Anderson, who was sound asleep when the tornado hit and ripped off part of her roof.
'All bananas are not created equal': Northland growers embrace variety

2 months ago | nzherald.co.nz | Leonard Powell

There are more varieties of bananas than the kind we see in stores. Photo / RNZBy Leonard Powell of RNZWhen buying bananas at the supermarket, you’ll see they come from countries such as Ecuador or the Philippines. And you could be forgiven for thinking we can’t grow them in New Zealand. But it turns out more and more Kiwis are getting into the banana game and there are way more varieties than the Cavendish kind we see in stores.
'Refreshing' Karanga Plaza pool a hit with children - and adults

2 months ago | rnz.co.nz | Leonard Powell

First person - As I wander through Auckland's Viaduct and approach the new Karanga Plaza pool, I'm met with a promising sight - if not a slight inconvenience. The problematic Te Wero Wynyard Crossing Bridge is going up, meaning I'll have to wait a few extra minutes before I cool off in the water. From the city side of the bridge, I can hear the splashes and laughter coming from the pool, as kids line up and see who can pop the biggest manu from the jump zone.
'The struggle is real, I've been there': The Auckland charity rescuing tonnes of kai

Dec 3, 2024 | rnz.co.nz | Leonard Powell

Have you ever wondered what happens to all of the food in supermarkets that is overlooked by shoppers? Well, for a long time, supermarkets threw out huge amounts of kai with the trash, destined for the landfill unless grabbed by a sneaky dumpster diver. But Auckland-based charity Fair Food is doing its best to make a difference, rescuing tonnes of produce every day to feed those in need.
Community newspapers to learn their fate this week as NZME considers closures

Dec 1, 2024 | rnz.co.nz | Leonard Powell

Fourteen North Island community newspapers will learn their fate this week, they could be closed down by Christmas as NZME look to cut costs in its regional paper operation. Among them are the Hauraki Coromandel Post, Katikati Advertiser, Te Puke Times, Taupō and Tūrangi Herald, Napier Courier, Hastings Leader, CHB Mail, Bush Telegraph, Stratford Press, Whanganui Midweek, Manawatū Guardian, Horowhenua Chronicle, and Kāpiti News.
'It still feels like a dream' - 11yo makes $10,000 hole-in-one

Nov 18, 2024 | 1news.co.nz | Leonard Powell

An 11-year-old from Tauranga has become the youngest-ever winner of the Hole in One Challenge at Lake Taupō, and is putting his $10,000 cash prize money towards a family vacation. Elijah Ellis told First Up he was shocked when it went in, while everyone around him started jumping up and down in excitement. It all started off as a pretty normal morning, with Elijah sharing a bucket of 50 balls with his dad, while his sister and mum watched on.
'It still feels like a dream' - 11 year old makes $10,000 hole-in-one

Nov 18, 2024 | rnz.co.nz | Leonard Powell

An 11-year-old from Tauranga has become the youngest ever winner of the Hole in One Challenge at Lake Taupō, and is putting his $10,000 cash prize money towards a family vacation. Elijah Ellis told First Up he was shocked when it went in, while everyone around him started jumping up and down in excitement. It all started off as a pretty normal morning, with Elijah sharing a bucket of 50 balls with his dad, while his sister and mum watched on.
'It's all about being one': Preparing for the arrival of Hīkoi mō te Tiriti

Nov 12, 2024 | rnz.co.nz | Leonard Powell

First Person - It's early afternoon at Te Kamaka Marae on Auckland's North Shore, and preparations for the approaching hīkoi are in full swing. Harm Taua and his whānau have the job of travelling ahead of the hīkoi to ensure everything is smooth for their arrival. "I get the address, turn up here and then basically announce to them I'm here part of the hīkoi that's coming to make sure everything's sort of running smooth. "We've come from Whangārei to here to set up.
2km move means no mail for Aucklander amid NZ Post stoush

Nov 11, 2024 | kanivatonga.co.nz | Leonard Powell

By Leonard Powell of rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission A resident of a new housing development in north Auckland is dumbfounded a move of less than two kilometres means he no longer receives mail. NZ Post will not deliver to individual mailboxes in the Ara Hills development. Photo: RNZ/Leonard PowellAra Hills in Ōrewa opened in 2022, 31km north of the Auckland CBD, with a mix of terraced and standalone homes.