The Panel

An Auckland smoothie food truck has caused outrage after naming one of their chocolate smoothies "Ghetto Girl". In repsonse to the backlash, Blitzd has delted the instagram photos and issued an apology...is this publicity or ignorance? The panelists discuss.

Yesterday we discussed the road toll with particular focus on the motorbike statistics. They now account for more than 15 percent of road deaths in New Zealand. We've had lots of feedback on the issue.

We've had lots of feedback particularly about those campers that claim to be self-contained but in many cases may not be using their on-board facilities.

What the Panelists Heather Roy and Andrew Clay want to talk about.

We're talking kids on The Panel today. The panelists weigh in on a handful of the latest news in child-rearing and teen-controlling.

The cost of school supplies continues to have an impact on struggling families.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announce the scope the government's mental health inquiry. It will take 9 months has a $6 million budget.  The panelists debate what they think needs to the focus.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement is back on, with the details expected to be signed off in March. But there are still many who are against the pact.

We're talking kids on The Panel today. The panelists weigh in on a handful of the latest news in child-rearing and teen-controlling - how to stop them perstering you for treats, whether pocket money is a good thing or not, are smartphones making them depressed? And the high school principal who wants to ban relationships between his teenage pupils. What the Panelists Heather Roy and Andrew Clay want to talk about. There have been a series of outdoor antics this summer. In Wellington swimmers trying to overturn a pontoon with no regard to their safety; in Wanaka a famous tree is being hammered by selfie-loving tourists. Other stories are more serious, resulting in tragedy. So should there be more signs, more patrolling and more concern of people's safety around potentially dangerous outdoor activities or is this simply a case of natural selection. Triathlete and author Steve Gurney weighs in on the situation. Yesterday we discussed the road toll with particular focus on the motorbike statistics. They now account for more than 15 percent of road deaths in New Zealand. We've had lots of feedback on the issue, many riders blaming car drivers. Others suggest our road high toll is because drivers are distracted by smartphones. The panelists weigh in. An Auckland smoothie food truck has caused outrage after naming one of their chocolate smoothies "Ghetto Girl". In repsonse to the backlash, Blitzd has delted the instagram photos and issued an apology...is this publicity or ignorance? The panelists discuss.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement is back on, with the details expected to be signed off in March. The 11-nation agreement had been halted following Canada's withdrawal in November but they've since resolved the contentious issues. Once signed, it will cover nearly 500 million people. But there are still many who are against the pact, which still includes problem issues like intellectual property provisions and aspects of the investor state settlement. International law expert Dr Al Gillespie from Waikato University joins The Panel to discuss what this means for the country. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announce the scope the government's mental health inquiry, highlighting the issue of accesibility and community involvement as some of the main areas of. It will take 9 months has a $6 million budget. A panel will go around the country listening to what people are struggling with and campaigners are urging people represent themselves and their needs. The panelists debate what they think needs to the focus. There are warnings about loan sharks taking advantage of the back-to-school financial drain. The cost of school supplies continues to have an impact on struggling families, with a recent study stating state education now costs more than $37,000. Some of the loans being offered to those in need have interest rates of 50 percent. The panelists debate the issue.