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A wrap of the day's big stories

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 ice at the Winter Olympics.

It's the brainchild of American writer Chris Colin, who joins Emile Donovan.

Christian Smith dials in from London with news from the other side of the world.

ABC Wantok Program for 18 February 2026.

The latest news from Melanesia.

Dan Weijers from Waikato University wrote his post-doctorate on the ethics of using prediction markets to forecast terrorist attacks, and joins Emile Donovan,

The latest RNZ Pacific news.

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.

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.

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.

The latest news in Solomon Islands Pidgin (Tok Pisin).

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.

This week's Sonic Moment of Calm features pianist Lorraine Sampson taking the edge out of communiting life in a busy Auckland railway station.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about British Police assessing private jet travel information to and from a London airport over links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well Metropolitan Police turning to technology in an attempt to crackdown on London phone snatchers.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The drive by shooting which hospitalised a former New Zealand rugby leage star may have been retaliation as part of a reported gang war. Matt Utai was shot multiple times outside his home in Western Sydney, though it is now thought he was not the intended target of the attack. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

There could soon be a ban on amateur climbers attempting to scale Mount Everest in a bid to ease congestion and discourage extreme selfie hunters with little or no experience taking on the challenge. Nepal's government is looking at new rules that would require climbers to have previously summited a seven thousand metre high mountain before attempting Everest. Wanaka based Adventure Consultants takes climbers up Everest, and General manager Caroline Ogle spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Kaihu local says complaints have previously been made about the same dogs that killed a woman yesterday. 62-year-old Mihiata Te Rore was visiting a person she knew at a property in the small Northland town when she was attacked and killed. Police say the three dogs involved lived at the property. She is the third person to be killed by dogs in Northland in the last four years, sparking calls for more to be done by local and central government to deal with the growing number of dog attacks occuring in the region and further afield. Finn Blackwell has more.

All the top stories and other headlines from the day