Navigation for The Panel

The Panel for Monday 1 December 2025

The Pre-Panel for 1 December 2025

Wallace Chapman and producer José Barbosa preview tonight's instalment of The Panel.

Relaxed smile portrait of Wallace Chapman on grey background

Photo: RNZ / Jeff McEwan

The Panel with Tim Batt and Aimie Hines, Part 1
 
Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Tim Batt and Aimie Hines.
 
First up, rates caps are here. From 2027, councils won't be able to increase rates by more than 4 percent per year. The Westland region has had the highest rates rises in the country over the last three years. Its Mayor, Helen Lash, joins the programme.

Then, the public inquiry into how Tom Phillips children were supported by authorities has raised questions over who deserves an investigation. Some lawyers, including Canterbury University lecturer Rachel Evans, say children living at Gloriavale are being overlooked.

The West Coast has three district councils, in Buller, Grey and Westland, as well as the Regional Council.

Photo: LDR

The Panel with Tim Batt and Aimie Hines, Part 2
 
In part two, the UK is banning plastic-based wet wipes. Why won't New Zealand?

Then, Warren 'Poppa' Ockwell has been spreading Christmas cheer for 25 years in Dunedin, building custom floats for the annual parade.

Warren Ockwell with one of the many floats he's created for Rainbow Preschool over the last 25 years.

Photo: Warren Ockwell

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: summer starts today, which means more sunscreen to be slathered on limbs for the next few months. But how did sunscreen go from being a tanning assistant, to a protector against skin cancer? Medical historian Laura Dawes explains.

Young girl in straw hat applying sunscreen on her back to protect her skin.

Photo: 123RF / Sosiukin