The Panel

Wallace Chapman and Jesse Mulligan star in the shortest show on radio, where they show they really can make something out of nothing, join them to be part of their delight, or to simply despair. Wallace will also preview what's on The Panel tonight.

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then: award winning fashion writer Emma Gleason is in studio to discuss those most chic of winter accessories: the scarf.

In part two, the charity sector is warning that a new cap on tax rebate claims for donations will mean less money in their books. Robyn Scott, acting chief executive of Philanthropy New Zealand, explains to the panel how this will affect charities. Then, Lesley has been scrapbooking articles from the Taranaki Daily news for 71 years. She's also recorded every Lotto draw since it first began. The panel meets Lesley and learns what keeps her clipping.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Cindy Mitchener and Tim Batt. First up, United States Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth has lumped New Zealand in with a bunch of countries he says are "freeloading" off America's military by only increasing defence spending from 1% to 2% of GDP. Should he get off the grass and stop telling us how to do things? Or does he have a point? The Panel discusses the issue with former defence minister Ron Mark. Then, it's the worst King's birthday weekend road toll in a decade - Caroline Perry from road safety charity Brake NZ talks to the panel about road safety education and what we are doing wrong.

Wallace Chapman and Jesse Mulligan star in the shortest show on radio, where they show they really can make something out of nothing, join them to be part of their delight, or to simply despair. Wallace will also preview what's on The Panel tonight.

In part two, Dame Lynda Topp was fired up at the music awards and attacked the government's spend on the arts. The panel discusses the issues at play with Jesse Austin-Stewart, lecturer at Massey University in the School of Music and Screen Arts, also a composer and music producer. Then, does anyone remember the glory days of the workingmen's club? The cheap pints, the cover bands, the darts. In Hamilton, those days are being reignited with an evening of Pub Olympics. It's a round robin of pool, giant Jenga and more all designed to entice younger members back to the working man's club. The panel talks to Nathan Hartley, manager of the Hamilton Workingmen's Club.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Aimie Hines and Ed McKnight First up, a Budget 2026 debriefing this time looking at the politics of it all: is this an election winning budget? The panel is joined by political commentator Grant Duncan. Then, children with parents in prison are serving an invisible sentence. That's the stark callout from a organisation which provides support to some of the 25 thousand or so children in that category. They say that hardship starts from the moment a parent is sentenced - and they've come up with a plan to change that. The panel is joined by Corrina Thompson who leads youth advocacy at Pillars.

The pre-Panel

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then: one company oversees most big live shows in New Zealand, and it goes by the name of Live Nation. Is that a problem? Associate Professor Dave Carter from Massey University's music school explains.

In part two, the issue of domestic cats hunting down native birds is a long-standing and thorny one. In Whanganui, local Bill Simmons reckons a cat curfew would lessen their damage. Then, Tūhura Museum in Dunedin is fundraising to help schools keep up museum visits as the fuel crisis makes trips less affordable.