The Panel

Australia's new Prime Minister is Scott Morrison. He's managed fend off challengers for the leadership Julie Bishop and Peter Dutton. Political scientist John Warhurst of the ANU gives his take on the result. And just where did the term "spill" come from?

The National Party leader Simon Bridges wants to forge ahead with an inquiry into the leak of his expenses spending. The Speaker Trevor Mallard has called-off the inquiry.How has this leak escalated into a tsunami? We talk to political scientist Bryce Edwards about whether the identity of the leaker should be revealed.

RNZ's political editor Jane Patterson is with us from parliament as PM demotes Clare Curran. The National Party leader Simon Bridges wants to forge ahead with an inquiry into the leak of his expenses spending. The Speaker Trevor Mallard has called-off the inquiry.How has this leak escalated into a tsunami? We talk to political scientist Bryce Edwards about whether the identity of the leaker should be revealed. Australia's new Prime Minister is Scott Morrison. He's managed fend off challengers for the leadership Julie Bishop and Peter Dutton. Political scientist John Warhurst of the ANU gives his take on the result. And just where did the term "spill" come from? An advertising executive who was invloved in New Zealand's 100% Pure tourism campaign and owns a holiday house near Queenstown says the new Atley Road subdivision will destroy panoramic views. MBIE is determined to stamp out imperial measurements in the coffee industry. It's written to the NZ Specialty Coffee Association about getting their members to stop using 8 ounce measures and switch to 236-ml cups. A storm in a coffee cup?

Famous messages in bottles.

Seagull death plunge, phone credit and helium balloons.

Listeners are worried about their elderly relatives who only have landlines. But those landlines may fail them in a power cut. Craig Young of TUANZ talks about the loopholes in the VOIP digital phone system and how this could be overcome.

As we mentioned yesterday poetry reading is making a comeback. Especially among 18-24 year-olds. We listen to an offering from a Panel listener. What the Panelists Alexia Russell and Duane Major want to talk about. Going to university can be a huge waste of time and money for many young people. Half of NZ's apprentices have already been to university. The Chief Executive of industry training organisation Competenz Fiona Kingsford says of the 60,000 teenagers leaving school each year, just four percent of them go straight into trades training. Listeners are worried about their elderly relatives who only have landlines. But those landlines may fail them in a power cut. Craig Young of TUANZ talks about the loopholes in the VOIP digital phone system and how this could be overcome. Cannabis law reform is on the way. Reports from the US show more Americans are reporting near-constant cannabis use, as legalization forges ahead. Public-health experts worry about the increasingly potent options available. How normalized should the use of cannabis be?

Yesterday The Panel talked about initiation ceremonies at some Otago University student flats.Some initiations involve being vomited on, urinated on, stripping or shaving your head. One listener thinks it's the chickens coming home to roost thanks to the University promoting its party atmosphere.

New laws will rein-in the sometimes exorbitant fees charged by wheel clamping companies. An amendment to the Land Transport Act will cap the amount that a vehicle can be charged to $100.

Air New Zealand's announced its second highest ever profit with pre-tax earnings of $540M. At the same time it'll be sharing the joy with staff by giving them a $1800 bonus. Geoff Plimmer of Victoria University talks about Air NZ's up-and-down fortunes and why they're giving bonuses rather than pay-rises.