Navigation for The Panel

The Panel for Monday 9 February 2026

The Pre-Panel for 9 February 2026

Relaxed smile portrait of Wallace Chapman on grey background

Photo: RNZ / Jeff McEwan

The Panel with Mary Lambie and Chris Wikaira, Part 1  

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Mary Lambie and Chris Wikaira.  

First up, the cleanup along Wellington's southern coast will take months and the Wellington Water CEO has conceded that the warning signs may have been missed. The Panel talks to Guardians of the Bay Chair Yvonne Weeber about this ongoing disaster.

Then, is the jury process fit for purpose? Why not have sometimes have expert panels instead of juries? A Auckland juror has slammed the process raising some important points. Human rights barrister Michael Bott joins the Panel to crunch the issues. We'll also discuss the Christchurch terrorist's appeal as of this afternoon. Is he taking advantage of the legal system?

Untreated water is leaking onto the capital's south coast beaches due to the Moa Point Treatment Plant flooding and being turned off from early this morning.

Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

The Panel with Mary Lambie and Chris Wikaira, Part 2  

In part two, Matthew Mokhefi-Ashton, Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Nottingham Trent University discusses the Epstein Files with the Panel and asks: who decides what to redact? Then, Carterton is the small town fighting to save its indoor pool. The Panel hears from Anna Beetham, chair of the Carterton Indoor Pool Project.

Portrait of American financier Jeffrey Epstein (left) and real estate developer Donald Trump as they pose together at the Mar-a-Lago estate, Palm Beach, Florida on February 22, 1997.

Portrait of American financier Jeffrey Epstein (left) and real estate developer Donald Trump as they pose together at the Mar-a-Lago estate, Palm Beach, Florida on February 22, 1997. Photo: Getty / Davidoff Studios Photography

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: Auckland is heating up - the urban heat effect means the central city is often 3 degrees hotter than surrounding rural areas. What are the solutions and how are other cities fighting what is sure to be a common issue in the future? Wallace talks to Tim Welch, Senior Lecturer, School of Architecture and Planning at Auckland University.

An aerial view of Auckland city, showing both the Harbour Bridge and the Sky Tower.

An aerial view of Auckland city, showing both the Harbour Bridge and the Sky Tower. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton