Author, literary advocte and founder of Verb Wellington, joined John on Real Life this week. Claire Mabey won the NZSA Best First Book at the recent New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults earlier in 2025, and spoke to John from the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

<p>Author, literary advocte and founder of Verb Wellington, joined John on Real Life this week. Claire Mabey won the NZSA Best First Book at the recent New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults earlier in 2025, and spoke to John from the Edinburgh International Book Festival.</p>

John Cowan hosts ‘Real Life’, a weekly nationwide chat show on Newstalk ZB featuring a different high-profile guest every week. John talks with them about their life, their upbringing, their passions and their view of the world.

Real Life With John Cowan

Claire Mabey - Author and Book Reviewer

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/89638534-8305-4a03-a05a-b3430085c69a/transcript

Working at the forefront of geopolitics, aid and development, and governance, Josie is CEO of ChildFund New Zealand and Chair of Fair Trade Australia & New Zealand. Her column appears fortnightly in The Post and on Stuff, and she was a finalist for Best Columnist at the 2023 Voyager Media Awards. Her writing has also been published internationally, including in The New York Times.Founder of Progress New Zealand, Josie has served in senior roles across government, international development and public affairs — including at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris.Born in New Zealand and educated at University of Warwick and Victoria University of Wellington, Josie brings global insight and sharp analysis to today’s biggest issues.

<div class="x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-inline: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Segoe UI Historic', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">Working at the forefront of geopolitics, aid and development, and governance, Josie is CEO of ChildFund New Zealand and Chair of Fair Trade Australia &amp; New Zealand. Her column appears fortnightly in The Post and on Stuff, and she was a finalist for Best Columnist at the 2023 Voyager Media Awards. Her writing has also been published internationally, including in The New York Times.</div>
</div>
<div class="x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-inline: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Segoe UI Historic', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">Founder of Progress New Zealand, Josie has served in senior roles across government, international development and public affairs — including at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris.</div>
</div>
<div class="x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-inline: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Segoe UI Historic', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">Born in New Zealand and educated at University of Warwick and Victoria University of Wellington, Josie brings global insight and sharp analysis to today’s biggest issues.</div>
</div>

Josie Pagani - CEO of Child Fund NZ

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/8e9e2ac9-f0b9-4eb0-b72f-b3f9007486e7/transcript

Yvonne Tahana - former TVNZ reporter

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/dc4b1b6a-adf9-4d4f-8d28-b3f2007401cd/transcript

Greg is in his first term as the Member of Parliament for Maungakiekie. He serves on the Māori Affairs Committee and is Deputy Chair of the Petitions Committee. In March 2024, the members’ bill in his name, the Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, was drawn from the ballot, aiming to strengthen New Zealand’s response to human trafficking by increasing penalties for domestic trafficking offences to match those for international trafficking.

Born in Masterton, Greg attended Wairarapa College and gained a Bachelor of Commerce from Victoria University. A Chartered Accountant, he began his career in London finance and is a student of te reo Māori.

In 1998, Greg left accountancy to address family fragmentation, leading Parenting With Confidence (now Parenting Place) through significant growth. He later co-founded The Maxim Institute and became Chief Executive. With 25 years’ experience in the charitable sector, Greg has helped build enduring community institutions and was appointed CEO of The Parenting Place in 2015. He has lived in Maungakiekie since 1998, where he and his wife Kirstin have raised their five children.

<p>Greg is in his first term as the Member of Parliament for Maungakiekie. He serves on the Māori Affairs Committee and is Deputy Chair of the Petitions Committee. In March 2024, the members’ bill in his name, the Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, was drawn from the ballot, aiming to strengthen New Zealand’s response to human trafficking by increasing penalties for domestic trafficking offences to match those for international trafficking.<br class="html-br"><br class="html-br">Born in Masterton, Greg attended Wairarapa College and gained a Bachelor of Commerce from Victoria University. A Chartered Accountant, he began his career in London finance and is a student of te reo Māori.<br class="html-br"><br class="html-br">In 1998, Greg left accountancy to address family fragmentation, leading Parenting With Confidence (now Parenting Place) through significant growth. He later co-founded The Maxim Institute and became Chief Executive. With 25 years’ experience in the charitable sector, Greg has helped build enduring community institutions and was appointed CEO of The Parenting Place in 2015. He has lived in Maungakiekie since 1998, where he and his wife Kirstin have raised their five children.</p>

Greg Fleming - National MP for Maungakiekie

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/8aa2fea4-ef3e-4936-8c7e-b3eb007418bf/transcript

Claire Mabey - Author and Book Reviewer

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