The Panel

Bernard Hickey told us on The Panel last week that petrol could hit $2.50. Today Shamubell Yacoub reckons $2.70 by early next year.

September ended with "national all-time high" average house asking prices - but vendors insist it's both a great time to buy, AND a great time to sell. Have we hit a supply-and-demand sweet spot, or are these empty words?

Winston Peters is calling for immigrants to prove they understand and respect "New Zealand values" - but he doesn't outline exactly what those values are. Expat Kiwi Andrew Boak lives in San Francisco now, and joins us to mull over the options ...

What the Panelists Chris Wikaira and Nadine Higgins want to talk about.

The Green Party wants the welfare system to be more compassionate - but with sanctions already down by a fifth, how much lower is it reasonable to go? Children's Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft joins the panel to explain why he thinks the care and protection system needs greater emphasis on Maori perspectives, given the large number of Maori in state care.

Led Zeppelin may yet pay a price for Jimmy Page's famous riff, as representatives of the band Spirit take Led Zepp back to court, accusing them of stealing the famous "Stairway to Heaven" riff from the 1968 Spirit song "Taurus".

Children's Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft joins the panel to explain why he thinks the care and protection system needs greater emphasis on Maori perspectives, given the large number of Maori in state care.

Led Zeppelin may yet pay a price for Jimmy Page's famous riff, as representatives of the band Spirit take Led Zepp back to court, accusing them of stealing the famous "Stairway to Heaven" riff from the 1968 Spirit song "Taurus". What the Panelists Chris Wikaira and Nadine Higgins want to talk about. Winston Peters is calling for immigrants to prove they understand and respect "New Zealand values" - but he doesn't outline exactly what those values are. Expat Kiwi Andrew Boak lives in San Francisco now, and joins us to mull over the options ... September ended with "national all-time high" average house asking prices - but vendors insist it's both a great time to buy, AND a great time to sell. Have we hit a supply-and-demand sweet spot, or are these empty words? Bernard Hickey told us on The Panel last week that petrol could hit $2.50. Today Shamubell Yacoub reckons $2.70 by early next year. The NZ Herald reports today on a young mother left fearing for her life after being threatened with beheading.

The Green Party wants the welfare system to be more compassionate - but with sanctions already down by a fifth, how much lower is it reasonable to go?

Tension is mounting between some Lower Hutt land-owners and the Greater Wellington Regional Council over its conservation values. The Council requires local councils to identify and protect indigenous ecosystems and habitats. Of the 116 of those SNAs (significant natural areas) in Hutt City 56 are on private land. Spokesman Pat McShane says many of these landowners feel they have no say over their own property.