Lisette Reymer
Lisette Reymer is a multi-award-winning journalist, one of New Zealand’s only war correspondents, and recognised as one of the country’s top storytellers.
In recent years, her life has been a blur of breaking news, border crossings, body armour, landmines and bomb shelters. Her reporting has even drawn the attention of the Russian President, who sanctioned her by name.
At 26, she became Newshub’s Europe Correspondent, covering major global events including the Ukraine war, Queen’s death, Israel-Gaza conflict, Trump’s indictment, King’s coronation, earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, the hunger crisis in Ethiopia, and more.
She’s won multiple journalism awards, including for her Ukraine coverage, and was named 2024 Reporter of the Year. Her book, No, I Don’t Get Danger Money, shares her wildest stories with brutal honesty and humour.
Lisette is also an experienced MC and now serves as Senior Correspondent for Three News, specialising in International Affairs, conflict, and politics—making her ideal for panels, analysis, and keynotes.
Testimonials
"We were truly honoured to welcome Lisette Reymer as our guest speaker at this year’s Scenic Hotel Group, Mainstay and Golden Chain Annual Conference. Her presence was nothing short of extraordinary. Lisette captivated the room from the moment she began speaking. With a rare and completing blend of humility, humour, and raw honesty, she shared her remarkable journey from newsroom reporter to accidental war correspondent — a path shaped by courage, instinct, and a single phone call that changed everything. Drawing from her deeply moving experiences, Lisette offered a powerful reflection on
resilience, adaptability, and the human spirit. Her storytelling was magnetic. She moved our senior leadership team, General Manager and invited industry partners to both laughter and tears, reminding us of the importance of empathy, resilience, and connection — values that lie at the heart of hospitality. Lisette’s ability to find light in the darkest places and to share those moments with grace and authenticity left a lasting impression on all of us. We wholeheartedly recommend Lisette as a keynote speaker for any conference or event seeking to inspire, challenge, and connect audiences on a deeply human level. Her impact is unforgettable."
“Lisette was guest speaker at our annual BPR client lunch. From the outset Lisette was fantastic to deal with and nothing was too much trouble. From the moment she stood up she had the guests enthralled with stories from her time as a foreign correspondent with 3 News. It was a great mixture of humour combined with the realities of reporting from some of the major conflicts around the globe. Lisette also took the time to mix with the guests before and after the lunch. Post event we received great feedback from our clients about Lisette with many saying she was one of the best speakers they had heard in a long time. I would thoroughly recommend Lisette if you were looking to make your event a standout."
"Lisette spoke at the Seafood New Zealand Conference in 2024 to an audience of industry leaders. She is a compelling presenter and riveting storyteller who can make her particular experience as a war correspondent relevant to a general audience. She also prepares thoroughly and it showed. Our delegates were gripped by her presentation and the feedback afterwards was excellent."
