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The Panel for Thursday 2 October 2025

The Pre-Panel for 2 October 2025 

Jesse is joined by The Panel host Emile Donovan and producer José Barbosa to preview this evening's show.

A smiling man (Emile Donovan) with short brown hair wearing a white top and a casual blue jacket. 
Dark blue background.

Photo: RNZ / Jayne Joyce and Jeff McEwan

The Panel with Zoe George and Max Burt Part 1

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Zoe George and Max Burt. 

Students learning in a school classroom.

Students learning in a school classroom. Photo: Unsplash/ Taylor Flowe

The Panel with Zoe George and Max Burt Part 2

In part two, the Buy Now, Pay Later sector is back under scrutiny. Afterpay recently reversed its decision to stop allowing no payment upfront on grocery and fuel purchases. The panel talks to a financial mentor about how this might affect the people she works with. 
Then, Paul Kilmartin, the man who has NEVER owned a cell phone. We ask him why and if he has found true happiness.  

Paul Kilmartin has amassed about 6000 records thanks to his father, who was a music distributor.

The records were collected by his father, John Kilmartin, mainly during his working life for HMV (later EMI) records. A few years ago, Paul Kilmartin needed 100 apple cartons to move them to Auckland. Photo: Supplied

The Panel Plus

An extra half hour of The Panel with Emile Donovan, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Mark Leishman

Then: the Conkers World Championship is nearly upon us. Emile talks to organiser St John Burkett about this year's competition and why the UK heatwave is causing strife for the sport.

"King Conker", David Jakins is at the centre of an alleged cheating controversy at the World Conker Championships

"King Conker", David Jakins is at the centre of an alleged cheating controversy at the World Conker Championships Photo: World Conker Championships