RNZ: The Panel

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then, fashion critic Emma Gleason is back, this time for a walk in the shoes of retro sneakers.

In part two, a group of Hawkes Bay parents are outraged their school bus route has been cancelled with next-to-no notice. Then, an unsuspecting style of dance is enjoying a global resurgence - and it's also especially good for your health.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Steve McCabe and Holly Bennett. First up, a new report looking at sexual violence in New Zealand recommends a complete rethink of definitions and laws around consent. Emerita professor of criminology, Jane Jordan, shares her thoughts on how that should look. Then, the rancid lunches served at a Christchurch school bring questions around the wider system back to the surface, according to Health Coalition Aotearoa co-chair Lisa Te Moerenga.

Wallace Chapman and producer José Barbosa preview tonight's instalment of The Panel.

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then: summer starts today, which means more sunscreen to be slathered on limbs for the next few months. But how did sunscreen go from being a tanning assistant, to a protector against skin cancer? Medical historian Laura Dawes explains.

In part two, the UK is banning plastic-based wet wipes. Why won't New Zealand? Then, Warren 'Poppa' Ockwell has been spreading Christmas cheer for 25 years in Dunedin, building custom floats for the annual parade.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Tim Batt and Aimie Hines. First up, rates caps are here. From 2027, councils won't be able to increase rates by more than 4 percent per year. The Westland region has had the highest rates rises in the country over the last three years. Its Mayor, Helen Lash, joins the programme. Then, the public inquiry into how Tom Phillips children were supported by authorities has raised questions over who deserves an investigation. Some lawyers, including Canterbury University lecturer Rachel Evans, say children living at Gloriavale are being overlooked.

Wallace Chapman and producer José Barbosa preview tonight's instalment of The Panel.

In part two, the panel hears from the founder of a campaign to create a unified approach to respect: basically, we all have to treat each other much better! Then, cashless parking meters in Oamaru have raised the ire of older folk who've always used coins.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Ali Jones and Ed Amon. First up, the government has revealed it wants to do away with e-scooters taking up footpath and send them into the bike lanes instead. Is this the right move? Then, at least nine learning centres have returned positive for asbestos in coloured play sand while testing continues at pace in other schools. How did it get to this? The panel considers the opinion of one expert who says the economic system values the wrong things.

Wallace Chapman joins Jesse to preview tonight's instalment of The Panel.

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then: Emily Whiu is the owner of Mama's Donuts in Hawke's Bay. Like many small businesses she been finding it tough going. But unlike other businesses she's highlighted the daily struggle on her social media.

In part two, local online retailers seem to be falling victim to mammoth international sites. It's called: the "Temu Effect". Then, Hamilton Gardens started charging entry fees. What has been the effect on business? the panel finds out.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Zoe George and Phil O'Reilly. First up, Erebus memories from a listener and the panel discusses the news that finally a location for a Erebus memorial has been chosen. Then, a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine is on the cards, or so we are told. What will it take for the conflict to end?

It's time for the country's most explosive 230 minutes of politics. This week Wallace is joined by Andrea Vance, Jonathan Milne and former labour MP Chris Carter. Tonight, the team discuss: is 2026 going to be the year of Winston Peters?; is Luxon going to be rolled?; the plan to remove regional councils and the continuing stoush between New Zealand and the Cook Islands.

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then: Rory O'Sullivan our in-house linguist is back. This week he is discussing a NZ Advertising Standards Authority statement following a 'complaint' about Noel Lemming using the word 'perfect' (adjective) instead of 'perfectly' (adverb).

In part two, Paul Glass is a blind man who was out for a walk with his guide dog Clayton last week, when he was attacked out of nowhere by another person's dog. Clayton has been left badly injured, shaken, and potentially unable to continue as a guide dog. It wouldn't take much for attacks like these to be stopped --- so what should people do when they come across a guide dog? Then, move over dating apps, the age-old practice of Matchmaking is BACK.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Verity Johnson and Nick Leggett First up, the reverberations are still being felt from yesterday's announcement about the government's proposal to axe regional councils. After 24 hours what questions linger and what needs to be answered? Then, the Reserve Bank has made a 25-basis point cut to the official cash rate. Has obsessing over the OCR become our new national sport?

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel.

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then, award winning fashion writer Emma Gleason is in studio to discuss "bogan style". What is it and where did it come from?

In part two, the spread of wilding pines in Southland is fast approaching the point of no return -- that's the warning issued. But funding has been cut, and control efforts have been described as 'treading water'. Then, the panel hears about plans to re-establish the Mornington cable car in Dunedin. The Dunedin Heritage Light Rail Trust chairperson Gina Browne outlines their vision.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Jo McCarroll and Ian Powell. First up, the government is announcing a "serious shake up" of local government today. The announcement is at 5pm and The Panel will have expert analysis with local government commentator Stefan Speller. Then, schools have been crying out about the pace of change to the curriculum. The whole thing has been rewritten for years zero to eight, and the updates have been met with enthusiasm from some, and fury from others. But for Anneta Payne, Principal of Kaitangata Primary in South Otago, the sheer volume of change has pushed her to call time on her career.

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then: Wallace chats to Paul Baragwanath, Director of the Kahui St David's Charitable Trust. St David's in Auckland's CBD was built in 1927 as a living memorial to veterans. The Kahui St David's Charitable Trust has managed to re-establish it as a hub for arts too - where it's hosted a full calendar of gigs and functions over the last few years. But creeping costs - including an annual insurance fee of 50 thousand bucks - are putting the building back on the brink. And we talk to some listeners who are practitioners of the ancient art of whitling.

In part two, the panel examines the Mamdani Effect and hears why politicians need to take notice of Zohran Mamdani and his effect on Gen z politics. Then, we return to Barry the Dog, left in SPCA care for 430 days. Today we can reveal that he has found a new home. The panel talks to Annie, Barry's new friend.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Deborah Hart and Allan Blackman. First up, the government's added another sheet of gib to its reforms of the building sector. John Grey is the president of the Home Owners and Buyers Association Inc, he says there's not a lot of detail and he's not sure it will change things for the better. Then, in another policy announcement, National has pledged to gradually push up KiwiSaver contribution rates up to 12 percent. Is it a good move? The panel talks to economics professor Michael Cameron.

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel.

In part two, it's time for another edition of Panel Soapbox - James joins the show with criticisms of the state of workmanship in New Zealand. Then, Auckland Women's Centre is over the moon about a $20,000 donation from none other than Metallica.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Ben Thomas and Penny Ashton. First up, after Winston Peters' pledge to repeal the Regulatory Standards Bill, are cracks starting to show in the coalition? Political commentator Jacqui Van Der Kaay gives her analysis. Then, the New Zealand Breakers basketball team have been under fire for deciding to not wear a rainbow pride jersey. Was their decision justified?

Wallace Chapman and producer José Barbosa preview tonight's instalment of The Panel.

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where he is joined first by Otago University senior history lecturer Chip Van Dyk. He's been looking into the behaviour of US President Donald Trump, and its resemblance to that of a traditional monarch.

In part two, the government's smartphone ban in schools wasn't met with enthusiasm by everyone, but a new ERO report says it's been a success so far. Stratford High School principal Cameron Stone discusses how it's worked in his school. Then, having a child is a joy, but sometimes parents need to let loose. And one group is making that happen by hosting 'Mum Raves' across the country.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Ali Mau and Mark Knoff-Thomas. First up, the government is hitting pause on puberty blockers, saying the medication is unproven and potentially damaging. But some doctors are calling it an "inappropriate overreach of politics into healthcare." Then, jury duty is enough of a cost on time, but one law lecturer says jurors are taking a financial hit, too. Jurors are paid about $10 an hour, a figure that hasn't changed for over 20 years.

Wallace Chapman and producer Tessa Guest preview tonight's instalment of The Panel.

Join Wallace for New Zealand's most explosive 30 minutes of politics. He is joined by panellists Ruwani Perera, Dan Brunskill and Tracey Martin. On the show: the continuing fallout from the IPCA report on how police handled accusations of sexual offending by former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming; The Opportunities Party is now Opportunity; Labour is now the most trusted party to respond to the most important issues to voters, according to a new survey and Bhissy's Bridge: was it kosher for Chris Bishop to agree to reallocate funds from Kainga Ora to a bridge in his electorate ... a bridge he campaigned on.

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then: Rory O'Sullivan gives us the best of his two cents on Cambridge's word of the year: parasocial.

In part two: Northland has always been notorious for its power cuts, but havoc wreaked by recent outages has called into question the robustness of the network. Far North Mayor Moko Tepania says a 'detailed investigation' into the cause of the power cuts is needed. Then, while many of you are preparing for the Metallica concert in Auckland we talk to one New Zealander who has an amazing story to tell about the band and their lead singer James Hetfield.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Denise L'Estrange Corbet and Peter Field. First up, ultra processed food has been linked to harm in every major organ system of the human body. That's according to the world's largest review just published in The Lancet. In New Zealand how is our food policy? is it protecting us from UPFs? Then, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday that four Uber drivers were employees in a test case, entitling them to benefits such as sick leave, holiday pay and a minimum wage. A win for them, but does this have any implications for future cases?

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel.

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then: Emma Gleason is back to talk fashion. this week she examines the wonderful appeal and history of paisley.

In part two, Police will start random roadside drug testing in December, but there are concerns it won't actually make our roads safer. Then, some Waikato residents are seeing red over tourists taking over Putaruru's Blue Spring and parking illegally.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Sarah Perriam-Lampp and Peter Fa'afiu. First up, it's about to become much cheaper to import dirty cars into New Zealand - with the government slashing Clean Vehicle Standard fees. Car importers are happy but advocates for electric vehicles are not so. Then, Sky Sports has pulled the plug on its new all pink TikTok channel designed for female sports fans, self-described as the 'little sister' to Sky Sports. It was widely derided as infantilising and sexist. The Panel surveys the wreckage.

Wallace Chapman and producer José Barbosa preview tonight's instalment of The Panel.