The Panel

Auckland, has a scorcher on its anniversary. Public holidays are scattered around the country in Northland, Marlborough, Nelson and Buller. Wellington's day off was a week ago. The Panel discusses whether those days should be consolidated into one. Our Dunedin based panellist Lisa Scott on a new fundraising race in her city. The Panel also talks to a public relations expert about. High temperatures are getting harder, mosquitoes are getting smarter and our lifeguards are stretched thinner. A stoush has broken out between Poland and Israel. A bill is in the Senate in Poland that would make it illegal to describe Nazi death camps as Polish.

Your feedback, and a preview of the guests and topics on The Panel.

A new study out of Britian reports that microwave use across the European Union causes the same amount of carbon emission as 7 million cars. They're also among the fastest growing waste streams worldwide. So environmentally it would seem that microwaves should be a no-go, but is that feasible? We ask the panelists whether they could live without the handy kitchen device.

A new study shows there's no safe level of smoking for such diseases so quitting completely is better than cutting back on the smokes.

What the Panelists Claire Matthews and Guy Williams want to talk about.

One of Britain's biggest car insurers is in hot water after admitting it hikes its prices if users apply using a Hotmail email address. Admiral said some domain names were "associated with more accidents" than others.

We continue our discussion on the bad habits of those visiting our popular hot spots. The Guardian is reporting that tourists have ruined the Milford track with their disgusting ways which is taking workers a long time to clean up.

Economic Development Minister David Parker is pushing ahead with a plan to secure a new site for America's Cup bases in Auckland. The plan would see millions of dollars saved but seems at odds with Auckland Council and Team New Zealand's agreement. The panelists debate the latest.

The Christchurch City Council has to remove a new path behind homes in Waimairi Beach because the soil used is contaminated with asbestos. It's removal is expected to cost $285,000.

With the heat comes mosquitoes. Wellingtonians are complaining of particularly bad bites. New research says if you swat mozzies away they stay away but that's not quite an effective method of staying unbitten.