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A wrap of the day's big stories

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A new survey by a music licensing initiative found nearly 40 percent of people will walk out of a store because of bad music.

Its new mascot, an animated sheep called Buck, has attracted plenty of attention online - though probably not the kind they hoped for.

ABC Wantok Program for 6 October 2026

Following a special RNZ simulcast of an election leaders debate, Wallace is joined by expert analysts Holly Bennett and Jonathan Milne to debrief the quips, claims, and colourful exchanges made.

The latest RNZ Pacific news and sport.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Peter Fa'afiu and Denise L'Estrange-Corbet First up, the latest RNZ Reid-Research poll cements the low turnouts for the two major parties, with Labour at 30.8% and National at 25.9%. Massey University politics professor Richard Shaw gives his analysis. Then, while some of us might grumble about the time and effort required to cast a vo...

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about a training exercise gone wrong which resulted in the death of a soldier.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

A tennis player has made a costly error at an ATP event in China. Russian Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from the China Open after hitting a ball into the crowd and striking a spectator. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

An Australian horse trainer and entertainer is expected to wow audiences at an upcoming festival in Hamilton. Joe Gardiner specialises in trick riding, the type of thing seen in an old fashioned western or gladiator style movie. His tricks will be on display at Equifest, kicking off next week. Joe Gardiner spoke to Lisa Owen.

National's Christopher Luxon and Labour's Chris Hipkins have only a few more hours to cram before they go to head-to-head in their first televised debate of the campaign. The showdown is set to begin at 7 o'clock on TVNZ and will be simulcast here on RNZ National.

National has resuscitated health promises it failed to deliver on this term. It has also made a new commitment, to give more than $600 million of additional funding for Pharmac's medicines budget, which will be funded by cutting foreign aid outside the Pacific. Tim Edmonds, spokesperson for The Forbidden Pharmacy spoke to Lisa Owen.

All the top stories and other headlines from the day

Experts say online misogyny - veiled under the cloak of the manosphere - is creeping into social media feeds in ways that are difficult to spot. The help educate young people and their parents, a university student has repurposed the alphabet, making each letter represent a term from the darker edges of the internet. Sammy Carter reports.

A specialist vape store has been fined tens of thousands of dollars following a first of its kind prosecution by health authorities. Discount Mall Vape Ltd, illegally sold vapes to under 18s and failed to prevent underaged persons entering its premises. The joint action taken by Health NZ and the Ministry of Health, marks the first time a business has been found guilty of both offences. Vape Free...

A North Canterbury eating disorder residential facility says it still can't attract government funding despite saving the lives of those admitted there. Recovered living cares for just nine people at a time and patients can stay for months, but it costs more than $8000 a week. The facility has raised concerns the care is too expensive for some, with people facing long wait times and under resourci...

The All Blacks are looking to flush their three defeats to the Springboks as they prepare to host Australia in Auckland. Despite a slew of injuries, the All Blacks are confident about locking away the Bledisloe Cup for a 24th consecutive year. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

For the past 94 days Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has been wearing a t-shirt promoting a different start up. Capiche is one of the companies featured. It's an AI tool helping people with dyslexia write. Founder Paul Mallinson spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about the US president saying he'll fund his own TV advertisements from now on, following backlash over recent taxpayer funded ads promoted him, meanwhile Trump has also said the US removed its bombers from a British airbase because of "some threats".

National has again made the promise, if re-elected, to lower the free bowel screening age to 50 by 2029. Christopher Luxon committed to lowering the age to 50 in the last election campaign in 2023. Despite that the government only just lowered the screening age to 56 last month. A Nelson dad with terminal bowel cancer says the promise falls short for the most vulnerable people. Bowel cancer patien...

The latest RNZ Pacific news and sport.

Wallace Chapman and Jesse Mulligan star in the shortest show on radio, where they show they really can make something out of nothing, join them to be part of their delight, or to simply despair. Wallace will also preview what's on The Panel tonight.