Join Wallace for New Zealand's most explosive 30 minutes of politics. He is joined by panellists Ruwani Perera, Marian Hobbs, and David Farrar. On the show tonight: Is New Zealand about to have its third Covid election? Punters suggest that in a pessemistic economic era, National might be pivoting campaign strategy to once again draw to mind the memories of Covid-19 and its management under Labour. Also, Paul Goldsmith has revealed the Broadcasting Standards Authority could soon be on the chopping block. Is New Zealand's fuel plan going to carry us through the crisis? And as one commentator suggests, is it time to bring back Helen Clark?

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then: linguist Rory O'Sullivan teases out the topic of universal intonation.

In part two, Retail NZ is calling for a crack down on black market cigarettes. Rohan Pike agrees - he's a former officer in the Australian Federal Police and the Border Force. He says the black market in Australia is huge and should be avoided here at all costs. Finally, cemeteries are a universal fascination, but they're rarely part of holiday plans. One person who strays from that norm is Panel listener Gianluca, who talks about his tomb travels.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Andrew Clay and Lizzie Marvelly. First up, the bottleneck at the Strait of Hormuz isn't going anywhere, and it's threatening a global recession. Australian National University international law Professor Donald Rothwell joins with his analysis. Then, in an annual AUT survey, public trust in news has risen for the first time in six years. What's driving the increase? Associate Professor in Media Studies, Peter Thompson, shares his thoughts.

Wallace Chapman and producer Tessa Guest preview tonight's edition 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: resident design historian Michael Smythe comes along to take a look at a locally crafted bus: Designline buses.

In part two, it's one experience to have an exceedingly common name, but what's it like to have an unusual one? Listener Myra has only ever met one other person with the same name. Then, woodwork is skyrocketing in popularity - especially among women. Alex Van Dam of the Dunedin Women's Shed joins the show.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Sue Kedgley and Rajorshi Chakraborti. First up, Donald Trump's latest nemesis is an unlikely character: Pope Leo the 14th. On Truth Social, Trump called the Pope "weak on crime." But what is the role of religion in war, if any? Otago University senior theology lecturer Andrew Shepherd shares his thoughts. Then, Wallace paid a preview visit to Auckland's City Rail Link, which is inching closer to opening day. A date still hasn't been set, but Andy Baker is the chair of Auckland Council's Transport and Infrastructure Delivery Committee, and he explains what's coming.

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: remember the good old days of VHS tapes? Well those could soon be a distant memory, says technology specialist and Silver Trak New Zealand general manager David Elder. He's on a mission to digitise as many tapes as he can...while it's still possible.