The Panel

The Pre-Panel for 18 February 2026

Wallace Chapman and producer Lucy Walker previews tonight's instalment of The Panel.

Photo: RNZ / Jeff McEwan

The Panel with Jo McCarroll and David Farrar, Part 1
 
Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Jo McCarroll and David Farrar.
 
First up, a flood-stricken vegetable grower in Pirongia has his community behind him, who've set up a Givealittle. Organiser and Farmers Markets NZ Chair Jono Walker joins the show.

Then, Northland has had its third fatal dog attack in a year. Dog behaviourist Darren Rowe takes a look at this tragic situation, and what needs to change to get roaming dogs under control.

Photo: Phillip Capper / Flickr / Creative Commons

 
The Panel with Jo McCarroll and David Farrar, Part 2
 
In part two, the government is cracking down on so-called double dippers of welfare funding. The Ministry of Social Development will be able to claw back payments when someone is backpaid for an ACC claim. Advocate Kay Brereton gives her reaction.

Then, an annual Dunedin book fair is set to draw in loyal fans this weekend - volunteer Oliver Harman previews the Regent Theatre 24 Hour Book Sale.

Photo: RNZ / Nik Dirga

The Panel Plus
 
An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan.
 
Then: resident linguist Rory O'Sullivan shares his hot take on a new piece of research that suggests that childhood exposure to a language is not necessary in order to absorb correct phonology.

Photo: Pixabay

 
The Whip for 18 February 2026

Join Wallace for New Zealand's most explosive 30 minutes of politics. He is joined by panellists Ruwani Perera, Jonathan Milne, and Chris Carter.

First, with an intense string of storms hitting the country already this year, is it time to take politics out of weather planning? Then, the first National Infrastructure Plan poses a similar question.

The panel take a look at a not-so-fringe political party in Australia that has risen astronomically in the polls, before assessing Labour's involvement (or lack thereof) in the government's negotiations of a Free Trade Agreement with India.

Slash in Wainui. Photo: Nathan Mckinnon