ABC Wantok Programme for 16 June 2026.

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 explains the enduring appeal of Ugly-Cool Sunglasses

The latest news from Melanesia.

In part two, last week we talked to Fisheries NZ and Greenpeace about the damage bottom trawling may or may not do to our ocean floors. This week we get the science involved with Simon Thrush, Professor of Marine Science at Auckland University. Then, Whakatane is spilt over the plans to introduce a $20 boat ramp fee for out-of-towners. Will this damage visitor numbers to the coastal town? The panel finds out straight from Councillor Wilson James.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Anna Dean and Thomas Scrimgeour. First up, we talk to The Panel's World Cup correspondent Rory O'Sullivan (moonlighting from his usual Panel Plus linguist role). Rory will review the nail-biting match between the All Whites and Iran today. Then, immigration New Zealand is in hot water after a damning Scrutiny Week review. The report outlines a laundry list of wrongdoings surrounding a biometric tech upgrade, which ended with 30 million dollars down the drain, and no new system. Political commentator Bryce Edwards surveys the damage. And finally, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that under-16s will be banned from major social media platforms. How will this latest ban work and what can be learned from the Australian experience? Lisa Given, Professor of Information Sciences at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology discusses with the panel.

The latest shark attack on a swimmer in Australian waters has sent a ripple of terror through beach-goers there and triggered fresh debate over whether the ocean predators should be culled. Our correspondent Nick Grimm joins Lisa Owen.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

There are accusations immigration officials misled ministers, deliberately withheld information and used creative accounting to avoid scrutiny of a failed technology upgrade that blew through tens millions of dollars before being mothballed. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford today launched a scathing take down of her Ministry off the back of a report detailing a litany of expensive mistakes in the biometric project. MBIE is the Ministry responsible, and chief executive Nic Blakeley spoke to Lisa Owen.

The All Whites sent fans on a rollercoaster ride in their opening game of the Football World Cup against Iran. After leading twice, New Zealand ended with a 2-all draw in Los Angeles today. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Christchurch charity growing and selling veges on a pay what you can afford model is hoping to break even this year. Te Waerenga Trust has gardens in several peoples' backyards and also land in Addington Park. General manager, Wilby Le Heux spoke to Lisa Owen.