The Panel

The Salvation Army has released its annual State of the Nation report and despite a surge in our economy and job market, many families are struggling due to high cost of living and housing.

Judith Collins, Simon Bridges, Amy Adams...the list of names gunning for the role of National leader is growing, but who actually has a chance? Today the candidates announced their intentions to run for the top job.

Endless love; What the panelists want to talk about; Little Heart Day; Oxfam sex scandal; Aus V NZ for migrants.

We ask the panelists what their favourite romantic tune is plus we talk to Donna Hewer from Simply Flowers in Dunedin about why roses are still the go to V-Day gift, despite the huge price tag.

The race is on; State of the Nation reaction.

Your feedback, and a preview of the guests and topics on The Panel. Story of the day is about Valentine's...for pets.

We find the answers to any queries you can think up. Today we answered Netta's question about Mynah birds, Jennifer's query about mozzies and Michael's one about sneezes.

Tropical Cyclone Gita has caused devastation in Tonga, with no water and no electricity for many. Local and internationals aid agencies are assessing the damage.

Eric Trump has revealed a new Trump magazine, despite the failure of many other Trump magazines in the past. The motto of the magazine is "LIve Luxury, Never Settle". The panelists tell us whether they find that inpirational and what other mottos they live by. What the Panelists Jo McCarroll and Chris Wikaira want to talk about. A survey on executive pay has revealed kiwi CEOs are paid less compared to their staff than their overseas counterparts. The pay gap between bosses and employees in New Zealand is not and has never been as large as it is overseas. Strategic Pay chief executive John McGill joins the show to tell us why that is and what sectors see the greatest pay ratio. The panelists discuss whether CEOs should be paid so much more than staff in any company. Valentine's Day has come around once again and there are calls for the comercialised day to be scrapped altogether. One writer claims we buy unneccesary gifts and spend ludicrous amounts on fancy dinners just to tell our significant other that we care about them. The panelists weigh in on whether they agree or if they think this attitude is little bit grinch-like. Following our story of the day yesterday about hand dryers, a listener got in touch to say the best way to wash your hands is to rub them together with water and plain soap. The United States has had a deadly flu season and it's likely to be the same here this coming winter. We ask Clinical Microbiologist Dr Sally Roberts what the best hand washing technique is and whether she prefers paper towels to hand dryers. An optional course called "Glitz and Glamour for GIrls" has been cancelled at a Wellington school after critics described it as harking back to the 1950s. But a spokeswoman for Evan's Bay Intermediate insists the course was all about teaching children entering their teen years about self-confidence. The panelists debate whether they think the course was misguided or simply misunderstood.

An optional course called "Glitz and Glamour for Girls" at a Wellington school has been cancelled after critics described it as harking back to the 1950s. But a spokeswoman insists the course was all about self-confidence.