RNZ: Nights

The Odyssey and other classics can demand patience and persistence. So how should we approach stories that have shaped Western literature?

Journalist and commentator Ben Strang joins the show with the latest sports news.

This week Emma is taking a look at the history of political scandals in Aotearoa. 

Writer Danyl McLauchlan has put together a list of the country's most effective political operators for The Listener.

Our laws still don't clearly define what consent is. Instead, they focus on what consent is not.

Nights' resident screen critic joins Emile Donovan to review The Odyssey and Propeller One-Way Night Coach.

New Zealand Fashion Week for 2026 kicks off in a months' time. From August 17th - 22nd, local designers will have their creativity on display at Auckland's Shed 10. Notable brands such as Juliette Hogan, Twenty Seven Names and Caitlin Crisp are confirmed to appear. Another eagerly anticipated showing is the Pacific Fusion Fashion Show on August 21st. The show is celebrating it's 10th anniversary this year and is all about showcasing the vibrant world of Pacific fashion. Joining the show to tell us more is founder Nora Swann.

This time Monday, the men's FIFA World Cup for 2026, will be over, with either Argentina or Spain taking out the much coveted trophy. The most watched sporting event in the world will be back in 2030 with Morocco, Portugal and Spain co-hosting, alongside three centenary games in South America, while Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 tournament. But what about 2038 and beyond? ... We can't let the rest of the world have all the fun - so could we ever co-host the tournament ourselves? Joining Susana is Michael Burton Smith who's been exploring this topic in article for The Spinoff. 

We're going to talk a little trip - an Odyssey perhaps - to the projection room of Imax in Melbourne. It's the domain of , Dan Drobik, he's tasked with looking after the very precious 15/70mm of the Christopher Nolan's new epic, The Odyssey. Imax Melbourne is one of only 41-cinemas worldwide, and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere, that are equipped to show the movie in it's film format - and purists are flying in from everywhere to view the movie the way Nolan intended. Susana speaks with the projectionist and Imax Melbourne technical manager about the magic happening behind the scenes.

It's time for our weekly politics catch-up with political scientist, writer, and former deputy leader of The Opportunities Party, or TOP as it was known then, Natalia Albert. Tonight: How much impact will Paul Henry have on Act's electoral fortunes, the politics behind NZ First's attempt to limit voting to citizens and why Labour is still missing in action.

They might be small, but they can tell some pretty big stories. A new exhibition at Te Papa, Iti te Kupu, Nui te Korero Tiny Statements: The Power of Badges, brings together more than 200 badges from its collection. Together, they tell the story of identity, belonging, pride, protest and resistance in Aotearoa. Te Papa's Curator of New Zealand Histories and Cultures, Stephanie Gibson, says these humble little objects are portals into our social history.

The Opportunity party has changed its name, its branding and its messaging under leader Qiulae Wong. The reset appears to be gaining traction, with the latest polls putting the party within striking distance of Parliament, and at least one showing them above the crucial 5% threshold. But as they say, the only poll that matters is the one on election day. So can this new look and renewed energy translate into seats and a place at the table when the next government is formed? Based on 30 years of MMP history University of Auckland political marketing expert Dr Edward Elder doesn't think so. . But he's not completely discounting the party.

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

Renowned for her elegant, elastic voice, Berlin-based, Danish-born singer, songwriter, producer and classically trained pianist Agnes Obel is making her long-awaited return to New Zealand this September. It's her first time back since her sold-out 2022 tour. Over the past decade, Agnes has built a reputation for creating hauntingly beautiful music that blends classical influences, intimate songwriting and a unique sonic atmosphere. She returned to the stage last year and is now bringing her distinctive, atmospheric style of music to Auckland's Te Paepae Theatre at the international convention centre. So to find out what she's been up to since she was last in Aotearoa, Agnes joins Susana for a chat.

WORD Christchurch Festival have just announced their exciting programme for 2026. Running from the 1st - 6th of September, the line up features bold ideas, memorable evenings, compelling stories, performances ... and some famous faces. So here to tell us more is Executive Director of the festival, Steph Walker.

This afternoon it was confirmed that bird flu has been detected on our shores. Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard said a brown skua had tested positive after it was found on Petone Beach in Wellington. It comes after more than a dozen cases of the virus were detected in Australia. So just how big is this risk and what should be looking out for? Natalie Forsdick is the President Birds New Zealand and she joins me now.

Josh Frizzell is a renowned kiwi filmmaker and director - the brains behind some of our iconic small screen moments. And yes, you may recognize his last name - he hails from a family of well-known artists. He's recently turned his hand to producing a short documentary, The Weight of the World, about his father, artist Dick Frizzell. The film is part of this year's Doc Edge festival, which was in Auckland earlier this week, and is now in Wellington. Josh joins Susana live in our Auckland studio for a chat.

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 Shower Thought, and RNZ's Nights is aiming to answer those unshakeable questions lurking at the back of your mind. Tonight's question: Can picking your own Lotto numbers improve your odds? Someone who's been researching this topic is Peter Alexander Whigham, Professor in Computing at the University of Otago. Read more on The Conversation here and view Peter's research paper here.

We're starting a new regular segment here on Nights looking at foreign policy, global power shifts, and New Zealand's place in the world. Joining us fortnightly to unpack what's happening around the globe is Anna Fifield . . . experienced journalist, foreign affairs commentator, author and the writer behind the Substack Between Giants. Tonight she's looking at what our biggest company can learn from Germany's dealings with China.

Scientists have studied it, poets have romanticised it, and musicians have written millions of songs about it, but nobody has ever fully explained why humans continue to fall in love. But comedy dance troupe Dynamotion's new theatre show Sharp Teeth explores that mystery through movement, comedy and storytelling. It's the latest collaboration between Lara Fischel-Chisholm and Tom Sainsbury and it starts next week at Q Theatre in Tamaki Makaurau. Lara joined Susana earlier for a chat.

Earlier this year the government unveiled a plan to shake up local government by merging many of New Zealand's 78 councils into fewer, larger ones. The preferred option is to have one council, known as a unitary authority, running each region. Exactly which councils will be merged, and the boundaries they'll cover, is still to be decided. Not everyone agrees the government is thinking about this change in the right way, including Dr Kirdan Lees an economist at Sense Partners. He says there are about 32 real economic regions of New Zealand, drawn not by politicians or history but delineated by where people actually go to work. He joins Susana for a chat.

Organ Donation New Zealand have released their review for 2025, revealing the figures behind almost 300 lifesaving and life-changing organ and tissue donations. 60 people, with family support, donated organs following their death ... and a further 57 donated tissue. The report also recognizes the incredibly generosity and deeply personal nature of each donation, and that it often occurs during the most difficult of circumstances. Someone who knows all too well just how life-changing organ donation is Christchurch Mum, Vivian Wong.

Well, it was a sports bonanza over the weekend. Here to run us through some of the most interesting, important and downright wild storylines is Nights own sports correspondent - Ben Strang.

After months of flattening fence posts, blocking roads and footpaths, and attracting thousands of fans, Tasmania's biggest, quite literally biggest, celebrity has finally slipped back into the Southern Ocean. Neil the elephant seal became an unlikely global superstar simply by turning up in the suburbs of Hobart and carrying on with life as if the humans around him didn't exist Sleeping, moulting and refusing to budge, every nap, groan and awkward waddle became another viral moment watched by millions around the world. So why did this one wild animal capture the world's imagination? And what does our obsession with Neil say about us? Someone who has been pondering this question is Hobart resident and a lecturer in media at the University of Tasmania Dr Gemma Blackwood.

Every Monday night around this time we take a moment to look back with our resident historian, Emma Kay. 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. This week Emma is talking about the history of Matariki.

If you have a pile of clothes with missing buttons or holes that you're not quite sure how to fix, our next guest may have the solution for you. Kirsty O'Hara, founder of Againery, has created a new app that teaches sewing skills. It's all about making our wardrobe more sustainable and getting mending trending. Kirsty joins Susana for a chat.

We start tonight with the sad news that legendary kiwi actor, Sam Neill, has passed away aged 78. At The Movies and Matinee Idle's Simon Morris joins Susana to reflect on his life and work.

Nights' resident screen critic Dan Slevin joins Susana Lei'ataua to review Primavera (directed by Damiano Michieletto), Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and Daredevil: Born Again and The Day Shall Come (directed by Chris Morris, 2019)

Many parents will recognise this situation: a sick child, a long car trip, or as is the case over the past few days . . . constant rain during the school holidays. Added to all the other stresses of parenting, sometimes the easiest thing to do is switch on the TV - sometimes for hours. But should parents worry about those occasional "all-day screen" moments? Dr Jo Orlando is a digital well being researcher at Western Sydney University. She joins us to look at finding the right balance in a world where screens are now part of everyday life. She speaks to Susana Lei'ataua.

There are LEGO sets... and then there are LEGO creations that make you wonder, "How on earth did they build that?" That's exactly what's on show in Christchurch this weekend. From giant landmarks to moving models, it's a celebration of imagination on a massive scale. The Christchurch Brick Show is back, and organiser Jonny Reid speaks to Susana.

Celebrated New Zealand artist Dame Robin White has returned to painting with oil for the first time in 50 years. Renowned for portraying people and their environments in New Zealand and the Pacific in prints and tapa cloth, Robin's latest painting 'Karawa, Tarawa, Marawa (Sky, Land, Sea) aligns beautifully with Kiribati Language Week happening around the country right now. For 17 years Robin and her family lived in Kiribati, and for the filming of Grace: A Prayer for Peace by Dame Gaylene Preston, they both returned to Tarawa. Susana speaks to Robin at her home in Masterton and Gaylene at her home in Wellington.

Journalist Melody Thomas joins Susana to talk about the upcoming episodes of her podcast, The Good Sex Project, which explores the ins and outs of intimacy, dating, and modern relationships in Aotearoa.

It's time for our fortnightly chat with Nights' resident sociolinguist, associate professor Julia de Bres. Tonight . . . We're talking about smiling . . . in particular, can we hear a smile? 

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

There were tense scenes in New York this morning. A high-rise office building near Grand Central Terminal in New York was evacuated this morning after engineers raised fears it could be at risk of collapse. Leading to emergency services evacuating a busy Manhattan street block during the morning rush hour. The building, which was being transformed from offices into apartments, highlights just how complex these enormous structures are. And while skyscrapers of this scale are less common in New Zealand, our buildings face another powerful force . . . earthquakes. Susana is joined by AUT Associate Professor of seismic engineering Dr Shahab Ramhormozian to look at how we keep our buildings standing.

It started with an overgrown bush in Dunedin's Southern Cemetery. Beneath it was a forgotten Chinese headstone and a 142-year-old mystery. After clearing the vegetation researchers have discovered not only was the headstone linked to the wrong man, but there were actually multiple men buried in the same plot. Christchurch historian and researcher Adrienne Shaw has helped piece the story together, and she joins me now.

We all get bad hair days and how we feel about our locks - or lack thereof - can affect how we show up in our everyday life. In fact - the relationship we have with our hair matters more than we may think. Elly Anastasiades - a PhD researcher at Anglia Ruskin University and a licensed Counselling Psychologist    - who's been researching and writing about this topic. She speaks to Susana Lei'Ataua

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 Shower Thought, and RNZ's Nights is aiming to answer those unshakeable questions lurking at the back of your mind. Tonight's question: Can you actually grow vegetables from the seeds in the veggies you buy at the supermarket?

We speak to Kaikoura mayor Craig Mackle for the latest on region under a red heavy rain warning.

New research has found that you can indeed teach an old cat new tricks. Companion Animals NZ in collaboration with Adelaide University have been looking at that tricky transition of making an outdoor cat, an indoor one. And it turns out making that making the change may be easier than expected. Susana speaks to Dr Nicola McDonald, Animal Welfare Manager at Companion Animals NZ, about the research.

This Friday the country will pause and look up as we mark Matariki. Matariki is the Maori name for the cluster of stars that rises at this time of year, signalling the Maori new year. Ayla Hoeta, Matariki is just one part of a much wider system of knowledge known as maramataka. Ayla is a maramataka practitioner, lecturer and first-year doctoral candidate at the University of Auckland's Faculty of Engineering and Design.

If you have a love of shoes - or you've been scrolling social media - you're not imagining things if you've seen more extreme footwear than usual. Yes, strange shoes are trending - and as one outlet put it, 'ridiculous shoes are everywhere.' Some examples include: A pump that sculpts the foot into a cloven pig's hoof, sandals that support the heel and nothing else, a beam of light for a heel ... not to mention the popular split toe tabis, the sneakerina or the snoafer. So what's up with these unusual designs and is it all just about brands getting our attention? Here to give us her expert opinion is footwear-designer Kathryn Wilson.