At broadcasting school, Lisette Reymer always thought she’d be the journalist best-suited to covering entertainment stories – cracking a joke with a movie star at a film premiere or telling an upbeat yarn for the “kicker” story at the end of the bulletin.
It turns out celebrity interviews give her an aggressive heat rash (or maybe that was just the effect actor Stanley Tucci had on her?), and disaster zones are, in fact, her natural habitat. A world away from the Waikato dairy farm she was raised on, Lisette found her time as Newshub’s Europe Correspondent coinciding with some of the biggest global headlines in decades.
From brushes with landmines in Ukraine to being detained by Turkish police and reporting on royalty to refugees, the 30-year-old saw more in three years than many journalists do in a lifetime. In her new book No, I Don’t Get Danger Money – Confessions of an Accidental War Correspondent, Lisette shares a funny and no-holds-barred account of what it was like to cover some of the most risky and extraordinary moments.
How has life been since returning to New Zealand last November?
Well, I’ve got a home now! I bought a little house – it’s so cute. I’ve even bought a couch and a plant. Getting my first place has been my number-one mission for this year – and getting the book out. I like goals and ticking off milestones. I can never be accused of dragging my feet.
Do you think your drive to succeed came from growing up with four older, high-achieving siblings?
Definitely! I don’t know if it was me keeping up, but I had a very different threshold for what I considered achievable in life. Everything I could’ve dreamed of, they’d pretty much done. Two of my sisters rowed for New Zealand. Mum was busy with five kids, so we were only allowed to play a sport if we were in the A team. She wasn’t going to drive us to the courts for the B team! It’s not a criticism – she just had to prioritise her time to be practical. I feel lucky to have the very best examples in so many different fields.
But have any of them written a book?
Well, my sister’s done her Masters, so she was like, “I was published first.” Okay, fine!
Early in your career, you were told you’d have to completely change your storytelling style if you were going to get anywhere. Tell us about that.
I was told I was too creative, my writing was too out-of-the-box, and I suppose my bosses at TVNZ wanted more of a generic style. I probably did need to master the basics first, to be fair! I was also told I was too confident when I started out. I wasn’t – it was all just bravado and being young. It was a combination of those things that made me move to Newshub.
The naysayers were a smaller group than the supporters, but the naysayers had a lot of power at that time.
More than 18 Ukraine and foreign reporters have been killed on assignment in the on-going war since February 2022. Did you ever fear for your life?
There was a moment when one of the Ukrainian locals kicked a big landmine right beside us. I truly thought we were all dead. Also had to escape a hotel fire in Odessa – an alcoholic had taken to his room with a lighter. I didn’t think I was going to die, but it was more of a prolonged traumatising experience. The most scared I’ve been was being stuck outside in Kyiv by myself during an air raid and
not being able to find the bomb shelter.
Share the oddest place you found refuge during an air raid.
Probably a bomb shelter in the Men’s Club. It was dark with a neon-red sign reading “Night Cats”. A lady appeared out of nowhere who said, “You’re welcome, but shush,” holding a finger to her lips.
Has reporting in hot zones affected your mental health?
There were lots of times I was way more affected than I thought I was. You power through and think, “You’re totally fine.” But I know my mental health has deteriorated through this experience. I had a panic attack one night while writing this book. And was in Barcelona covering the America’s Cup and there was a big festival on, with fireworks going off while I was trying to write. I don’t know if I was exaggerating it in my mind, but it felt like the buildings were shaking. I was really not okay and they wouldn’t stop. I used to love fireworks, but now I hate them. I’d never had that before and it felt so strange because it was so long after being in a war zone.
How do you feel about being sanctioned by the Kremlin and never being allowed
into Russia?
I’d be angry if I wasn’t! I probably was a little too flippant about it at the time, though. There were other people who were sanctioned who were quite concerned about it and thought I should be too. It’s actually the story of my life – I’m like the eternal optimist who never thinks anything bad will happen to me. But that can be dangerous when you’re in dangerous situations.
Your book describes moments of personal embarrassment – flashing “all of Windsor” at the King’s Coronation or going live on air with pasta sauce on your face. You didn’t beat yourself up, though…
When I started out, I was so meticulous and tidy. I’d buy all of the serious TV clothes and couldn’t imagine ever wearing a beanie on air. Being a war correspondent, it’s just not practical and in those environments, how you look is the last thing on your mind. It’s survival – you’re sleeping in a car and there’s no electricity to straighten my hair, even if I wanted to. My puffer jacket with the fluffy collar became semi-famous because I wore it daily. I got it drycleaned and I was like, “Oh, you’re black, I thought you were grey.”
Is there a story you regret not telling?
Not getting into Gaza. That story, in particular, makes me so angry and upset. People say, “You wouldn’t go to Gaza.” Yes, I would! I’m still trying to get into Gaza! It’s outrageous that no foreign journalists have got in there except for CNN’s Clarissa Ward, who went in for one day with an aid agency. I find that so wrong. We went to Israel, of course, but it didn’t feel right to be there trying to tell a story that wasn’t in Israel any more, like being in Wellington pretending you’re on the frontline in Auckland. It was on the verge of feeling token.
Tell us about bumping into Clarissa…
In my first year on the job, three months pre-war, I was in Paris for the All Blacks Northern Tour. I was walking across the street opposite the Louvre and Clarissa walked by and I gasped so loudly, it gave her a fright. So then I was like, “Oh, I’m so sorry. It’s just I’m a journalist and I’m obsessed with you – we all watch your stories.” I was so over the top. Of all the people I’ve met, I’ve never fangirled like this. She was lovely and explained she was in Paris for an awards show with fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg. I asked for a photograph and sent it to my work group chat while crying with excitement on the streets of Paris! Then, months later, her CNN cameraman is shooting my live cross. I just hoped she didn’t think her Kiwi stalker had found her in Kyiv!
Did you meet Larry the Downing Street cat – the 17-year-old tabby who has taken up residence in the iconic home?
We spent many mornings alone on the street with just Larry for company. Often, he would be busily fox hunting. It will be a massive news story when Larry dies. He’s so famous. People will flock to Downing Street and that will be the nation in mourning.
How have you enjoyed presenting the Three News 6pm bulletin?
I’ve never wanted to be a newsreader and avoided the studio because I never thought it was for me. I’ve always felt most comfortable in the field. But the way things worked out, I’ve needed to fill in every so often. And actually, it’s an adrenaline rush I’ve been missing. That’s why I think there have been some immense lows since coming back because I’ve been missing the rush.
Name the worst gift to buy you.
War books. But the amount of people who have bought me them as a present… I just can’t read them – it’s too much sadness. And it’s why I didn’t want my book to be a heavy read. Most of the content I consume is really light-hearted. My favourite podcast is [Australian comedy duo] Hamish and Andy. I’m currently listening to another good comedy one where they ask people what their dream meal is.
So what’s your dream meal?
Spring rolls and cheesecake.
No, I Don’t Get Danger Money by Lisette Reymer (Allen & Unwin NZ, rrp $37.99) is in bookstores now.
