Emile Donovan
Covid quibbling, Iranian opinion, Peter Bassett update
Another Covid inquiry prompted plenty of pandemic pointscoring - but not so much on the plan for the next one. Also: who speaks for Iranians - and who is Peter Bassett? Audio
The Pre Panel for 10 March 2026
Emile Donovan, in for Wallace Chapman, previews tonight's edition of The Panel. Audio
Midweek - Different pictures of war, TVNZ's interference fears
Coverage of war breaking out on Iran, influencers' soft power picture shattered, the local angles including a PM punished for fluffing his lines. Also - TVNZ's crime reporting fallout prompt claims of… Audio
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: why do rational, science-based people hold on to superstitions? Micah Goldwater is… Audio
Midweek - Andrew image explodes, goalie's grief goes global
'That' image of Andrew is one of world's most-reproduced images ever - while a local goalie's grief went global this weekend. Also - The Press looks back on 15 years after the quake; the PM's social… Audio
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: as the battle rages on to bring Jeffrey Epstein's victims justice, the sad reality… Audio
Midweek - terrorist's identity, private functions go public
Judgments media made reporting the recent court hearing featuring mass-murderer Brenton Tarrant. Also: how two private functions at one private club ended up being very public - and AI accusations on… Audio
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… Audio
Update on storm and flooding
It's been another day of wild weather across the country. We update the latest information. Audio
Midweek - WaPocalypse now, FLOTUS film flop
Turmoil at one of the great names of US media - The Washington Post. Also: the FLOTUS film flop, the sweary hero of our Winter Olympics, an outburst of 'enshitification' Audio
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… Audio
Midweek - Epstein overdrive, Mauao fallout, Luxon on camera
Epstein Files hog headlines worldwide as local angles emerge here. Also: more commentary on the tragedy at Mount Maunganui, the PM copping unfair criticism for his visits to the disaster zones, NZ… Audio
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: Louise Williamson (pseudonym) joins Wallace to recount the unnerving experience of… Audio
What happens to the human body at high heats
With a heatwave bringing temperatures in New Zealand up to 37 degrees (and up to 45 degrees in Australia), Emile Donovan chats to physiologist Grant Lynch based at the University of Sydney's Heat and… Audio
Cryptic Clues with Wendy Wethey
To warm up your brain for 2026, cryptic crossword writer Wendy Wethey joins Summer Weekends with a series of clues. Tune in after the news at 9am and 10am, be the first to text in the right answer to… Audio
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: the manosphere - a part of the internet that capitalises on the insecurities of… Audio
Midweek - the good, bad and weird of 2025
Colin Peacock and Emile Donovan hand out Mediawatch's not-very-prestigious and not-at-all coveted annual awards - such as best leading of the media by the nose; worst live media event, and the Billy… Audio
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, fashion critic Emma Gleason comes along to advise on what's best to wear this… Audio
Midweek- PMs hog the screen, Coster at length, WBD
Presidents and Prime Ministers happily hogged the screen in TV specials this week - but not our PM. Ex-top cop Andrew Coster broke his silence at length - and big deals are being done in overseas… Audio
The Panel Plus for 8 December 2025
An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then: it's been billed as the biggest mistake a New Zealand politician has ever made. In… Audio
