Nights

Out Lately with Finn Johansson

19 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

He's back, and ready to inform, educate and entertain us with an array of eclectic music.

Short-Cuts with Dan Slevin

19 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Nights' resident screen critic joins Susana Lei’ataua with his latest reviews.

Celebrating Jules Topp

19 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Singer Tami Neilson was among those who gathered in Auckland for a final send off to musician Dame Jools Topp. 

Best in fiction, poetry and non-fiction showcased in 2026 New Voices of Aotearoa list

19 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Louise Ward is a bestselling author and co-owner of Wardini Books, and one of the judges behind this year's selections.

Meet the New Zealander spending three months at NASA

19 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

AUT PhD student Laura Franssen is the first microbiology researcher to receive the New Zealand Space Scholarship.

The gossips of ancient Rome

18 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Author of Behind Caesar's Back, Caillan Davenport joins Susana Lei’ataua.

Lord of the Rings actor on new role in fandom inspired short film 

18 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Bruce Hopkins, who is best known for playing Gamling in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy plays the lead role in Wise Sam Gangees

Politics with Natalia Albert

18 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tonight, the Immigration New Zealand saga, Labour awakens from its 'political coma' and the case for a fiscal commission. 

What is a polycrisis and what does it mean for Aotearoa?

18 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Catherine Knight is one of the organisers of The Reality of Everything symposium, and she joins Susana Lei’ataua.

Behind the stereotype of the crazy cat lady

17 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Dennis Turner, an animal behaviorist at the University of Zurich Irchel in Switzerland, has spent more than 40 years studying human-cat relationships....

What's behind the scale back of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030?

17 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

BBC global affairs correspondent Sebastian Usher joins Emile Donovan to discuss where to now for the big plan.

Law specialist on serious claims against Immigration NZ 

17 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Mai Chen joins Emile Donovan for her views on the accusations that Immigration New Zealand officials deliberately withheld information over a faile...

Forty years of the NBR Rich List

16 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hamish McNicoll is the co-editor at National Business Review and he joins Emile Donovan.

Shower Thoughts: Why is there no direction in space?

16 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Auckland Richard Easther joins Emile Donovan to answer tonight's question.

Student debaters to represent New Zealand at international competition

16 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We speak to two members of the New Zealand team set to travel to Kenya in July.

Could Aotearoa be the new 'Singapore of the South Pacific'?

16 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist and commentator Anna Fifield joins Emile Donovan to explain.

The secrets of the deep sea and why we need to protect it

15 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist Jacob Mikanowski, who has been diving into the endless mysteries of the deep sea for his new feature in the Guardian., joins Emile Donovan....

Sports with Ben Strang 

15 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We’re joined by journalist and commentator Ben Strang.

Small Histories of New Zealand with Emma Kay 

15 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This week she's taking a look back at timekeeping in early New Zealand.

Colin Peacock on surprise editor appointment at The Post

15 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Emile Donovan is joined by the host of Mediawatch for his view on the appointment.

Should we be able to take politicians at their word?

15 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

That’s the question posed by Newsroom managing editor Jonathan Milne.

Out Lately with Finn Johansson

12 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

He's back, and no doubt ready to inform, educate and entertain us with an array of eclectic music.

Short-Cuts with Dan Slevin

12 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Nights' resident screen critic Dan Slevin joins Emile Donovan to review: Glenrothan (In Cinemas), Devs (Neon), and The Way (Brollie). 

The Weird Horror Film Festival is back 

12 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

And this year it's even bigger and even weirder!

The fight to save The Gypsy Tea Room

12 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With the iconic venue facing closure, locals are rallying to save a place they say has become part of the fabric of the neighbourhood.

Humans prefer to walk counterclockwise but we don't know why

12 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Next time you're in a shared public space, like a supermarket, or museum, take a closer look at the people around you.

Melody Thomas on the new season of The Good Sex Project

11 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Good Sex Project is back for a third season.

No shame in the playlist

11 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Why should we feel the shame of some of our musical tastes...indeed any form of entertainment?

A Queer History of Fashion Dolls

11 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The influence of fashion dolls on queer culture will be explored at Wairarapa Museum of Art and History tomorrow night.

Trekking from Dunedin to the airport

11 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The journey from Dunedin to the airport takes around half an hour by car, uber, taxi or bus. But could you walk to the airport?

Can you separate football from FIFA?

11 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off tomorrow - so how do football fans square their love of the beautiful game with everything that comes with it?

The best and the worst of FIFA World Cup songs

10 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

RNZ Music's Zen Yates-Fill joins Emile Donovan on the show tonight to take us through the good, the bad and the ugly. 

Julia de Bres on graphic novels

10 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's time for our fortnightly chat with Nights' resident sociolinguist, associate professor Julia de Bres.

To tree or not to tree

10 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's that time of year again when New Zealand crowns its Tree of the Year. But one of the six finalists has run into a spot of trouble. 

How has the MMP voting system held up after 30 years?

10 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Has it been successful? Or has it not delivered the results it promised?

DUZ it go or DUZ it not?

09 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Last night we spoke with journalist and Trekka enthusiast Todd Niall about whether New Zealand's only mass-produced vehicle is now being seen as retro...

How to deliver a pizza to the international space station?

09 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever been standing in the shower, when suddenly, the noise in your brain clears and, in its place, appears the perfect thought? That's a Show...

Could a missing masterpiece be hanging on your wall?

09 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What if an invaluable piece of artwork was quietly hanging in your hallway and you didn't even realise it? Curators at Christchurch Art Gallery are se...

Inside Parliament's Spooky Tour

09 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Parliamentary Library is one of Wellington's most iconic buildings. It's also one of its oldest. Standing beside Parliament for more than a centur...

Could the humble Trekka be making a comeback?

08 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Our only locally designed and mass-produced motor vehicle, they were made in the late 1960s and early 1970s by the motor car assembly company, Motor H...

Sports with Ben Strang

08 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s Monday night, so it’s time to talk sport.

Small Histories with Emma Kay

08 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This week, she's here to talk about Kauri gum and the industry which grew around it.

The Great Trans-Tasman Sausage Sizzle Battle

08 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A new salvo has been launched in the trans-Tasman tit-for-tat over who did what first.

Peptides are all the rage right now - but should they be?

08 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a growing market online for so-called “peptides”, but regulators are warning it’s a space moving well ahead of the science.

Out Lately with Finn Johansson

05 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's a classic science experiment which creates a dramatic result when the mentos sweet reacts in the Coca-Cola.

Shortcuts with Dan Slevin

05 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Nights’ resident screen critic joins us for some recommendations ahead of the weekend.

National Bowling Championship takes off this weekend

05 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

.Alex Reed is the publicity officer of New Zealand Indoor Bowls Inc, and he joins Emile Donovan.

Fifty-plus years in brass bands recognised

05 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Leigh Martin was awarded the King’s Service Medal for services to brass bands. He joins Emile Donovan.

The Auckland man betting the house on football - literally 

05 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tim Thomas joins Emile Donovan,

Weight training linked to longer life, study finds 

04 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The findings say 90 minutes to two hours of weight training a week can greatly reduce the risk of an early death.

The science behind the Coca-Cola and Mentos experiment

04 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's a classic science experiment which creates a dramatic result when the mentos sweet reacts in the Coca-Cola.

What happens when a few companies control the market?

04 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Commerce Commission's latest annual grocery report found there has been little observable change in competition.

Four NZ MPs banned from China for one year after Taiwan visit

04 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Chinese Embassy said the sanction could be reduced or lifted if the MPs apologised. But what exactly is it that they need to apologise for?

Google wants to release 32 million mosquitoes - but there's a catch

03 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Rachael Horner is an entomologist; she joins Emile Donovan on the show tonight to explain. 

What does late night eating do to your teeth?

03 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Veteran Nelson dentist Andrew Meffan joins Emile Donovan.

European correspondent Christian Smith

03 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

Inside the silent book clubs

03 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Kirsty Ren is the host of a silent book club in central Auckland and joins Emile Donovan.

Is New Zealand happy going nowhere?

03 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

AUT Chancellor and former Health NZ chair Rob Campbell joins Emile Donovan.

How do queens choose their drag name?

02 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Environmentalist drag performer Pattie Gonia is being sued for trademark infringement by outdoor clothing company Patagonia.

Does poetry have to rhyme?

02 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Poetry met the world of big business this past week when billionaire Jeff Bezos used it as an analogy for layoffs at The Washington Post.

Shower Thoughts: Is it bad to eat late at night?

02 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever been standing in the shower when suddenly the noise in your brain clears and, in its place, appears the perfect thought?

AI boom or AI bubble?

02 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Does AI's sky-high valuations stack up, or are we watching another investment bubble take shape?

Why is Pauline Hanson polling so well?

02 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A new national opinion poll in Australia has One Nation’s primary vote at 31% – up from 7% just two years ago.

Should NZ revisit its nuclear-free policy?

02 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Defence Minister Chris Penk surprised many by suggesting it could be "helpful" to have a conversation about it. 

Out Lately with Finn Johansson

29 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

He's back, and no doubt ready to inform, educate and entertain us with an array of eclectic music.

Shortcuts with Dan Slevin

29 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Short-Cuts, Dan Slevin takes a look at: Moss & Freud (In cinemas), Marty, Life is Short (Netflix), and The Beekeeper (TVNZ). 

How Tim Payne became a viral sensation

29 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Aotearoa's very own Wellington Pheonix Tim Payne went from just under 5 thousand Instagram followers to a whopping 1M in a matter of just 48 hours. ...

This Weekend: NZ Scrabble Championship

29 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Triple word scores will be flying in Christchurch this weekend as the country’s best Scrabble players battle it out.

Traitors winner Sam Smith on the art of lying

29 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The winner of Aotearoa’s first ever season of Traitors, the reality show built around lies, deception and betrayal, shares just how he won. 

Glen Moffatt heads to Hands of Fame 

28 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Hawkes Bay-born songwriter and performer is being inducted into the New Zealand Country Music Hands of Fame this weekend. 

Life on the left side 

28 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Among 10% of the world is left-handed - including our very own Emile Donovan. 

How Cricket is growing in Japan 

28 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The country has become a growth market for Cricket ahead of the Asian Games later this year. 

Budget 2026 is here 

28 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The budget contained no sugar hits for voters, with a focus instead on core health and infrastructure spending.

Mouse plague overwhelming Western Australia

27 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Morawa, 370 kilometres from Perth, has been overrun, with rodents invading homes, businesses and paddocks. 

Julia de Bres on British insults

27 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tonight, we're talking about insults. Whether it was gafter, numpty of something a bit more r-rated we've all probably had one hurled at us at some po...

Branding the Harbour Bridge 

27 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Could one of Auckland’s most iconic landmarks soon have a corporate sponsor attached to it?

Budget Day is almost here 

27 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tomorrow, Finance Minister Nicola Willis will deliver the third and final Budget of this Parliamentary term. 

The case for the Irish goodbye  

26 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For a long time it’s been treated as rude or awkward - but maybe we’ve been judging it too harshly all along.

Shower Thoughts: Does IQ really matter?

26 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever been standing in the shower when suddenly the noise in your brain clears and, in its place, appears the perfect thought?

Meet the GP behind the one-woman show 

26 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Lucy O'Hagan has been a General Practitioner for 30 years. She's also also a writer, speaker, playwrite, performer, colmunist and actor. 

How do we keep kids safe online? Not with a social media ban 

26 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A coalition of major children's organisations say that tech companies themselves need to be held legally responsible.

Australia's social media ban leaves gap in young people's access to news

25 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's been just over six months since our mates across the ditch brought in a social media ban for under 16s, hoping it would create a safer online env...

Sports with Ben Strang

25 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tonight: Auckland FC wins the A league, the Enhanced Games started today, and a wildlife attack in Raglan halts the World Surd League. 

Theatre director Dan Bain on the challenge of adapting Homer's Odyssey

25 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The theatre director's comic adaption of The Odyssey for the stage won a number of awards in 2024.

Another day, another literary AI scandal

25 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How much does it really matter if our literature is written by AI? Steve Braunias joins to tell us. 

A tale of two visits to Beijing

25 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have both been in Beijing over recent weeks. But what did these meetings achieve?

Short-Cuts with Dan Slevin

22 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Nights' resident screen critic joins Emile Donovan to review: The Mandalorian and Grogu (In cinemas), Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore (Paid streaming...

The rise of professional football in Aotearoa 

22 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Former All White and Kingz player Harry Ngata has seen first-hand just how far football in Aotearoa has come.

The life of a chimney sweep 

22 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Sweep's Michael Gleason joins the show to give us the lowdown on life as a chimney sweep. 

Townhouses are selling at a loss 

22 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

New figures show almost 20% of townhouses are being sold for a lower price than what their owners paid for them, in some cases facing a devastating lo...

How do you cast the next James Bond?

21 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The author of Licence to Thrill: A Cultural History of the James Bond Films tells us the challenges of casting this iconic role. 

The great mongoose dodge 

21 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist Naomi Arnold says we should thank our lucky stars that the mongooses introduced into New Zealand in the 1880s never took off. 

Are we pushing kids too hard in sport?

21 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist Greg Bruce's new piece highlights the mental and physical pressure parents are placing on their children when it comes to sport. 

Is our governance system outdated?

21 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Is New Zealand obsessed with government and negligent about governance? And what's the difference between the two?

Goodshirt frontman nominated for prestigious art award 

20 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Rodney Fisher has turned his attention to another side of his creative life as a visual artist.

Are you choosing the red button or the blue button?

20 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

University of Waikato philosophy lecturer Dan Weijers joins to deconstruct this viral hypothetical thought experiment testing game theory and moralit...

European correspondent Christian Smith

20 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tonight - Arsenal win the league, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is facing some heat, and a massive breakthrough in the Grenfell Tower Fire. 

Arsenal's finally gone and done it 

20 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Toby Manhire, the editor at large at The Spinoff, joins Emile on the show tonight to celebrate Arsenal's magnificent win. 

What we know about the latest Ebola outbreak

20 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A rapidly growing outbreak in Central Africa is ringing alarm bells among health authorities around the globe.

Inside Parliament with Barry Soper's new book 

19 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The veteran political journalist and commentator has finally put pen to paper in his new book One Last Question, Prime Minister.