Nights

Which is the coolest Super Rugby Pacific jersey?

27 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

 RNZ sports journalist Jamie Wall joins Emile Donovan for his thoughts. 

Historian Dr Rowan Light on significance of Erebus national memorial

27 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It has been announced that a national memorial to the disaster will finally be built, following the decision to locate it in Christchurch.

On Law, violence and revolution', new book examines what happens after war

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Marika Sosnowski joins Emile Donovan to discuss her new book, 'Fifty-eight Facets'.

UK correspondent Christian Smith

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Christian Smith joins Emile Donovan to discuss news making headlines in the UK.

The history of the iconic chocolate fish 

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Senior writer at The Spinoff, Alex Casey has been taking a deep dive into the history of the chocolate fish and why they are our preferred reward for ...

Should tenants be able to ask for a rent decrease in the current rental climate?

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sarina Gibbon is the founder of Tenancy Advisory, and she joins Emile Donovan.

What can we learn from Australia's cigarette black market to avoid the same fate?

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

International consultant Rohan Pike is a former Australian Federal Police officer and Customs and Border Force expert. He joins Emile Donovan.

Shower Thoughts: Why do cats meow?

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Molly Kelsey is The Cat Counsellor and she joins Emile Donovan to explain 

The life and times of the small town of Herbertville 

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How a conversation on RNZ about the town has been immortalised in the book Route 52.

Are solo drinkers a problem for bars?

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A Manchester bar owner has caused a furore over his policy to ban solo drinkers to his bar after 9pm.

Regional councillor, former Mayor on local government shake-up

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jono Naylor has been around all sides of the issue and joins Emile Donovan.

Meet the country's youngest ever NZ Funeral Association president 

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Bradley Shaw has just been made President of the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand

World news with the BBC 

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We cross to Pete Ross at the BBC World Service to take a look at some of the events making international headlines.

Small Histories with Emma Kay

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tonight she's talking about Madame Zenobia an Auckland fortune teller who found herself in trouble with the law.

Sports with Jamie Wall 

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We look at the big stories in the world of sport.

Why a libertarian wants more done to collect unpaid taxes 

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Damien Grant is an Auckland business owner says the current system for collecting tax arrears is broken.

Short-Cuts with Dan Slevin

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nights' resident screen critic joins Emile Donovan to review a raft of theatre on screen works: the recording of hit stage production Hamilton (2020...

The Quiz Appendix: Swimming pools and Patti Smith

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nights producer Bonnie Harrison joins Emile Donovan to review the week in quiztastic glory.

"Overlooked" cricket stalwart recognised by New Zealand Cricket

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, the New Zealand Cricket Board met and elected three new life members, one of whom was the Naenae Express himself, Ewen Chatfield. He joins ...

Is New Zealand in danger of population stagnation?

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

To help make sense of it all Emile Donovan speaks to distinguished professor emeritus and research director at Massey University, Paul Spoonley.

Philosophy Now: Does right and wrong exist?

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dan Weijers, a senior lecturer in philosophy at the University of Waikato, joins Emile Donovan to discuss.

Government eyes up privatising Lotto

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Newsroom.co.nz National Affairs editor Sam Sachdeva has been reporting on the potential sale and speaks to Emile Donovan.

Stefan Fatsis: Why dictionaries are thrilling

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Stefan Fatsis is a journalist, scrabble player and author of Unabridged: The Thrill of (and Threat To) the Modern Dictionary. He talks to Emile abou...

Science with Ezzy Pearson

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our regular science correspondent Ezzy Pearson talks life on Mars, how rubbish could domesticate raccoons and using gene therapy to combat cholester...

When I met Metallica

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As American metal heavyweights Metallica rock out Eden Park tonight, Kiwi fan Ben Sheeran shares his story of meeting the band backstage in the 90s. ...

Sex ed consultation walking out the door

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Rachael Dixon, senior lecturer in health sciences at the University of Canterbury and a health education expert, joins Emile Donovan to discuss.

Live Music: Sionna

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Live from our Christchurch studios, Irish-born folk duo Lorcan Bolster and Helen Fahy chat to Emile Donovan and play a few tunes for us.

Shower Thoughts: How do you value a property?

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Time now for another one of those seemingly random thoughts that strike amidst the steam and soap suds of the shower: what determines a house valuatio...

AI covers see writers ruled out of New Zealand's top book awards

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our national book awards committee has rejected books with AI covers. It's nothing to do with the writing - just AI for the covers.

Is your Uber about to get more expensive?

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Uber contracts 11,000 drivers in New Zealand - it is our biggest ride-sharing app and yesterday, a long-running court case involving Uber came to a ...

Cutting through 'spin': David Cohen on his unauthorised biography of Jacinda Ardern

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In his new book, writer and journalist David Cohen wants to offer a different perspective on Jacinda Ardern's leadership than the documentary Prime Mi...

BBC World Service Lookahead with Rob Hugh-Jones

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our correspondent tonight is Rob Hugh-Jones, who is talking about the debate in Germany over its military buildup, the former prime minister of Bangla...

Sports with Jamie Wall

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

RNZ sports journalist and Nights' sporting guru Jamie Wall joins Emile to talk about all the action from a big weekend of sport, including where to no...

Small Histories with Emma Kay

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tonight she's talking about the origins of the New Zealand accent.

With a new leader and party rebrand, Opportunity aims for parliament in 2025

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Despite giving off radio silence since its defeat in 2023, The Opportunities Party has been consistently polling around 2 percent. Qiulae Wong wants ...

Short-Cuts with Dan Slevin

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nights' resident screen critic joins Emile Donovan to review Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (in cinemas), East of Wall (paid streaming) and Bla...

This Weekend: Wairarapa Walking Festival

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Wairarapa Walking Festival is already underway, running through to Sunday 23 November. The festival takes in the region's varied urban and rura...

This Weekend: Arty Little Flickers

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Wikipedia describes Subbuteo as a "tabletop football game in which players simulate association football by flicking miniature players with their fing...

Lit mag pulled from Whitcoulls shelves

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Founder and editor-in-chief of Folly, Emily Makere Broadmore, joins Emile Donovan.

Thinking deeply about deepfakes

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Deepfake technology seems to be flooding online spaces and as AI-generated gets more sophisticated, the challenges will grow. Dr Yuki Watanabe from th...

How kids' TV consumption has changed in 10 years

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Senior writer and head of audience at The Spinoff Anna Rawhiti-Connell joins Emile to talk about NZ On Air’s latest research on children’s media...

Myth Takes: The Roman soldier

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Classics educator and enthusiast Ben Jackson talks to Emile Donovan what it took to run the Roman army. 

How prepared are we for solar storms?

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Last night, stargazers were treated to a spectacular show as the Southern Lights lit up the skies in the south. Thanks in part to Dr Daniel MacManus f...

Europe correspondent Christian Smith

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Europe correspondent Christian Smith joins Emile Donovan for the latest on the BBC, a German court ruling against Open AI/Chat GPT for misusing musi...

The Prime Minister mulls asset sales

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dan Brunskill is interest.co.nz's political and economics reporter based in the parliamentary press gallery. He joins Emile to discuss.

The psychology behind The Celebrity Traitors

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dan Baumgardt is from the University of Bristol's Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, and is also a Traitors megafan. He joins Emile Donovan. ...

Shower Thoughts: What does a ghostwriter actually do?

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Margie Thomson discusses how she became a ghostwriter for musician Stan Walker, and mental health advocate Sir John Kirwan and what it all entails. ...

A blueprint for iwi-led housing in New Zealand?

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In Vancouver, the Squamish Nation is building an apartment complex on its reserve land which will be home to at least 9,000 residents. Under Canadian ...

Booker Prize's 2025 winner's 'bare bones' prose

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

RNZ's executive editor of specialist news Jeremy Rees has read the shortlist. Is Flesh a worthy winner? 

Scathing report into upper echelons of NZ Police

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

RNZ political reporter Lillian Hanly joins Emile Donovan.

Chris Kohler: The journalist helping keep money in people's pockets

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

He joins Emile Donovan to discuss his new book How They Get You, a guide to hanging on to your hard-earned cash and spotting the tricks designed to m...

BBC World Service Lookahead with Rob Hugh-Jones

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

BBC World Service reporter Rob Hugh-Jones drops by to take a look at events making international headlines.

Sports with Jamie Wall

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

RNZ's Jamie Wall joins with the latest sports, including the All Blacks' victory over Scotland. 

History with Emma Kay

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Emma runs Small Histories of New Zealand, where she digs up curious stories, funny articles, and lost treasures from our past and shares them on socia...

When winning in court still costs you

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Even after winning $200,000 in costs, Siouxsie Wiles' court case has left her $400,000 out of pocket. Is this fair? Barrister Steve Keall joins Emi...

Short-Cuts with Dan Slevin

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nights' resident screen critic joins Emile Donovan to review Dan Trachtenberg's 2022 Predator prequel Prey (Disney+), eight-part western-noir series ...

The Quiz Appendix: See how it runs

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Producer Bonnie Harrison joins Emile Donovan to debrief the week in quizzes.

This Weekend: Robot Rampage

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jack Barker, organiser of Robot Rampage and part of the team behind End Game, New Zealand’s world champion combat robot, speaks to Emile Donovan.

New Zealand's top tertiary teacher

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After 25 years as an automotive mechanic, Richard Hope transitioned into tertiary teaching in 2019. Since then, he has transformed his classroom into...

What's the secret behind IKEA's global success?

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Emile Donovan speaks to University of Otago consumer behaviour expert Professor Lisa McNeill.

Quakes: Can we predict when the 'big one' will hit?

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's been about 2,600 since New Zealand's last large earthquake of magnitude six or more. Are we 'overdue'? Earthquake geologist Dr Rob Langridge joi...

The power of eye contact with Julia de Bres

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After nearly two years of chatting about language on the radio, Emile and Julia are meeting in person for the first time!

How concerned should we be about hornets arriving in New Zealand?

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hornet-watcher Phil Lester is a professor of ecology and entomology at Victoria University of Wellington.

Why clear and easy-to-understand language matters

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The annual Plain Language Awards aim to fight back against that and highlight good examples of clear and easy-to-understand language. Founder Lynda H...

Science with Ezzy Pearson

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Science correspondent Ezzy Pearson talks about orcas that have developed a new way of hunting sharks, why men need to exercise more to get the same h...

Should MPs be attending Taiwan celebrations?

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Former MP Peter Dunne — who visited Taiwan several times as an MP — says New Zealand's Chinese ambassador has “lost the plot” in warning MPs...

The New Zealand artist creating 'risky' playgrounds

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New Zealand-born, Australia-based artist Mike Hewson creates playgrounds that, at first glance, look more like construction sites than places to play....

Shower Thoughts: How do you write an obituary?

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jeremy Rees is the executive editor of specialist news at RNZ and a former editor of the Weekend Herald, NZ Herald website, and the Herald's head ...

How frogs were used as medicine in the medieval age

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Greti Dinkova-Bruun is a Fellow and Library Director at the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies in Toronto, and has been looking into medieval ...

The hidden rise of organised crime networks in New Zealand and the Pacific

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the past seven years, the price of methamphetamine has dropped by 36 percent. In that same period, food prices have risen by about 37 percent. Wri...

90 years on, Monopoly remains a global obsession

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The best-selling licensed board game of all time was released 90 years ago, and chances are there's a Monopoly set tucked somewhere in your home, read...

BBC World Service Lookahead with Rob Hugh Jones

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tonight he's looking at the United Nations' latest report on global emissions of greenhouse gases, the escalating conflict in Sudan and Hungarian Pri...

Sports with Richard Irvine

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With RNZ reporter Jamie Wall covering the All Blacks in Chicago, our sports correspondent tonight is sports writer and author of the weekly newslette...

Small Histories of New Zealand with Emma Kay

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tonight she's talking about New Zealand's history with Guy Fawkes.

Te Pāti Māori president demands MPs resign as party feud intensifies

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

To give us some context around what's happening, Emile Donovan speaks to political editor at the NZ Herald, Thomas Coughlan. 

Out Lately with Finn Johansson

31 Oct 2025

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

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nights' resident screen critic joins Emile Donovan for some Friday night reviews.  

M.C. Slave on new RNZ show

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Williams joins Emile Donovan to talk about The Logg Cabin.

This Weekend: Movie Marathon at the Hollywood Cinema

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Billie Rogers joins Emile Donovan.

How Halloween cobwebs make frighteningly good DNA collectors 

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

University of Waikato Senior Lecturer of Ecology, Biodiversity and Animal Behaviour Dr Ang McGaughran joins Emile Donovan.

Why do we love horror movies?

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mathias Clasen, associate professor and director of the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark is a horror researcher., and he joins Em...

What was behind the global Microsoft outage?

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dev Singh from the University of Auckland's Electrical, Computer and Software Engineering school.joins Emile Donovan to explain.

Why Fonterra farmers voted to sell consumer business to French dairy giant

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Julia Jones is an independent advisor in ag industry and joins Emile Donovan.

Inside the world of competitive pumpkin growing

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam Elton-Walters from Giant Pumpkins NZ joins Emile Donovan.

The significance of the PM's meeting with Donald Trump

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam Sachdeva is the national affairs editor at Newsroom dot co dot nz and is on the ground in Korea.

Outgoing police association president Chris Cahill reflects on tenure

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Detective Inspector Chris Cahill served as president of the New Zealand Police Association for nine years, from 2016 to 2025.

Kiwi team out to reclaim title in annual trans-Tasman​ sheep dog trials

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lloyd Smith has been competing in dog trials since the 1970s and joins Emile Donovan from his farm near Palmerston in Otago

The pros and cons of a social media ban for young people

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We are joined by two experts who come down on different sides of the issue, clinical psychologist Dr Danielle Einstein and media lecturer Dr Alex Beat...

Shower Thoughts: How do you write a sermon?

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Reuben Munn has been a pastor for twenty years and joins Emile Donovan to explain.

What can New Zealand learn from the Irish arts benefit?

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jenny Dagg is a sociologist and researcher at Maynooth University in Ireland and wrote the cost-benefit analysis for the scheme. She joins Emile Donov...

European correspondent Christian Smith

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Christian Smith joins Emile Donovan to discuss news making headlines in Europe.

How much is your flatmate’s love life costing you?

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Economist Ed McKnight has crunched the numbers and built a calculator that can tell you.

What you need to know about Labour's capital gains tax

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tax expert Terry Baucher joins Emile Donovan.

Out Lately with Finn Johansson

24 Oct 2025

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

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nights' resident screen critic joins Emile Donovan with some viewing recommendations for your long weekend.

New book to focus on Southland's tragic and odd events

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The author is historian, columnist, and former Invercargill city councillor Lloyd Esler, who joins Emile Donovan.

The man behind the 'world's best' bar

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lorenzo Antinori from Bar Leone in Hong Kong joins Emile Donovan.

Rainbow's End iconic pirate ship returns

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Susan Mudie is the Rainbow's End CEO and she joins Emile Donovan.

UK's former schools minister Sir Nick Gibb

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sir Nick Gibb oversaw a dramatic turnaround in England's school reading and maths performance during his tenure as schools minister through the rollba...

Philosophy Now: A cruel God?

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tonight, Dan takes on perhaps the ultimate question in Western philosophy: if God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-beneficent, how can there be s...