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ABC Wantok Program for 18 December 2025.

The DJ, producer, and 'godfather of Kiwi club culture' joins RNZ Nights.

Tonight's question: Is advertising actually a good idea?

Our executive producer pops along with some sage reflections on the nature of sport and success in this his final show of the year

Dr Tim Welch is a Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland and joins Emile Donovan to discuss the new mega ministry.

The latest RNZ Pacific news.

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 young men - is booming, and so is business. But how did it end up in the mainstream? Queensland University of Technology Sociology Professor, Michael Flood, explains.

In part two, Waikato Regional Council has voted to keep Auckland to Hamilton passenger train, Te Huia, chugging along. Public Transport Users Association coordinator Jon Reeves is over the moon.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Ed Amon and Jo McCarroll. First up, are there green shoots on the horizon at long last? GDP figures out today are higher than even the most optimistic predictions. ANZ's chief economist Sharon Zollner gives her analysis. Then, did former deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming get off light with his sentencing of home detention yesterday? The director of a charity protecting children from sexual exploitation, Elanor Parks, breaks down the legality of his actions.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about Australians continuing to grapple with the consequences of this week's Bondi terror attack, with the government there today revealing a series of measures targetting hate speech and antisemitism.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Nearly two months on from a sewage spill that completely destroyed their crops, Mahurangi oyster farmers are still waiting to see a full compensation package. 1200 cubic metres of sewage overflowed from a Watercare pump station in late October, contaminating thousands of oysters in the Mahurangi river and preventing the farmers from harvesting for nearly a month. Watercare agreed to give a million dollars in compensation to 10 affected farmers, who split it between them, and the organisation promised to provide a second payment before the end of the year. But as Evie Richardson reports, the farmers are still waiting and getting increasingly desperate.

New Zealand Netball's nightmare year continues. After the highly publicised standing down and reinstatement of Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua, CEO Jennie Wyllie has now resigned. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

The boss of Corrections has repeatedly broken the law by denying prisoners their basic right to an hour of exercise outside their cells every day, according to High Court ruling. It ordered chief executive, Jeremy Lightfoot to comply or risk being in contempt of court which could result in a fine or jail. Auckland prison inmates complained they've frequently been denied their daily hour of exercise, while Corrections argued staff shortages, safety constraints and a lack of facilities prevented exercise unlocks. Correction's Commissioner of Custodial Services, Leigh Marsh spoke to Lisa Owen.

The school in the secretive west coast christian community, Gloriavale, is effectively being closed down.The Secretary for Education anounced she is cancelling Gloriavale Christian School's registration effective from the 23 of January. Lawyer Brian Henry, who has represented Gloriavale leavers and called for the school to be shut down, spoke to Lisa Owen.

All the top stories and other headlines from the day

An open letter to political leaders is calling for them to end visas tied to a single employer, saying they set the stage for potential exploitation and abuse and make it harder for victims to escape. The letter's signed by the Human Rights Commission and 26 others including migrant support groups, the Salvation Army, Community law, the Council of Trade unions and modern slavery experts. Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Professor Gail Pacheco spoke to Lisa Owen.

The family of an elderly woman with severe dementia was so concerned about the standard of her hospital care that they rostered themselves on shifts to look after her. And for another severely ill elderly man, a short hospital stay for a routine operation ended with him catching norovirus and losing over 10kgs of weight. His wife says the worst part of it all was that he was left to suffer alone in soiled bedding. These two cases have put the spotlight on the care of elderly patients. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

Despite a rain delay, the Black Caps and West Indies are well into their third test at Mt Maunganui's Bay Oval. Meanwhile, Australia are looking to continue their run of dominance over England in the Ashes. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about Robert Reiner's son making his first appearance in court following the alleged murder of the famed Hollywood director, as well as the FBI's deputy director stepping down.