It's time for our fortnightly chat with Nights' resident sociolinguist, associate professor Julia de Bres.

It's that time of year again when New Zealand crowns its Tree of the Year. But one of the six finalists has run into a spot of trouble.

Has it been successful? Or has it not delivered the results it promised?

ABC Wantok Program for 10 June 2026.

Join Wallace for New Zealand's most explosive 30 minutes of politics. He is joined by panellists Guyon Espiner, Lillian Hanly and Tracey Martin. First, Labour's first big election policy is out - a weekly cap on public transport fares. Then they look at the controversy surrounding the newly announced Labour candidate who's a top police staffer. And 30 years on, has MMP served New Zealand well?

The latest news in Solomon Islands Pidgin (Tok Pisin).

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then: resident linguist Rory O'Sullivan answers a listener question about whether there is such thing as a correct emphasis on certain syllables in each word.

The latest RNZ Pacific news.

In part two, apricot or biscotti? Those are two of the options Timaru councillors chose from for a paint job at the Theatre Royal. Then, you've heard of board game cafes, but how about a remote control cafe? A spot in Auckland's Mt Eden lets people send diggers around a sandpit as they sip their coffee.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Heather Roy and Richard Pamatatau. First up, Labour's first big election policy is out, and it's a $20 weekly cap on public transport fares for those in our biggest cities. That cap is $10 for everywhere else. Urban planning expert Tim Welch shares his reaction. Then, a panel of public health experts are calling for a blanket ban on sugary drinks in schools and early childhood centres.