RNZ: Nights

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

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 Emile Donovan.

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

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

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

Stefan Fatsis is a journalist, scrabble player and author of Unabridged: The Thrill of (and Threat To) the Modern Dictionary. He talks to Emile about his love of words - and lexicons.  

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

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.  

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

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.

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 valuation? 

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

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 close.

In his new book, writer and journalist David Cohen wants to offer a different perspective on Jacinda Ardern's leadership than the documentary Prime Minister and her own memoir. He joins Emile Donovan to discuss.

Our correspondent tonight is Rob Hugh-Jones, who is talking about the debate in Germany over its military buildup, the former prime minister of Bangladesh going on trial, and the complicated marking of 50 years since the death of the former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. 

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 now for the All Blacks following their loss to England and the Irish last-minute miracle to keep their Football World Cup dreams alive.

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

Despite giving off radio silence since its defeat in 2023, The Opportunities Party has been consistently polling around 2 percent. Qiulae Wong wants to turn the party's chances around.

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

The Wairarapa Walking Festival is already underway, running through to Sunday 23 November. The festival takes in the region's varied urban and rural geography with a varied programme. To tell us more, organiser Celia Wade-Brown speaks to Emile Donovan. 

Wikipedia describes Subbuteo as a "tabletop football game in which players simulate association football by flicking miniature players with their fingers". Auckland-based artist Bob Moore transforms the miniature player models into well known pop culture figures. The launch of his exhibition Arty Little Flickers takes place in Grey Lynn tonight. Bob tells Emile what to expect. 

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

Deepfake technology seems to be flooding online spaces and as AI-generated gets more sophisticated, the challenges will grow. Dr Yuki Watanabe from the University of Otago studies interdisciplinary perspectives to examine the profound impacts of deepfake technology. She says we should be proactively shaping the future of this technology with human-centered approach. Dr Watanabe speaks to Emile Donovan. 

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 use - the third iteration of the study. Anna and Emile also look back at the golden age of kids' television, when those with Sky TV could tune in and watch iconic shows on Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. 

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

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 from the University of Otago, our infrastructure got through it unscathed.

Europe correspondent Christian Smith joins Emile Donovan for the latest on the BBC, a German court ruling against Open AI/Chat GPT for misusing music lyrics, Milanese prosecutors investigating 'sniper tourists' from the siege of Sarajevo, and what the English are saying about All Black's visit to London this weekend. 

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

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

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

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 law, no council permission is required to build on reserves. The Spinoff's senior writer Joel McManus discusses whether this could be the future of iwi-led housing in Aotearoa.

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

RNZ political reporter Lillian Hanly joins Emile Donovan.

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 make you spend it.

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

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

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 social media. Tonight's topic is ghosts. 

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 Emile Donovan.

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

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

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.

After 25 years as an automotive mechanic, Richard Hope transitioned into tertiary teaching in 2019. Since then, he has transformed his classroom into a supportive and empowering space for students of all backgrounds and abilities.