Nights on RNZ National

07/05/2024

We had optometrist Sachi Rathod in the studio yesterday to tell us more about the rise of myopia in New Zealand children. She rides around in the University of Auckland's Vision Bus Aotearoa giving free eye exams and glasses to kids who need them.

Sachi had some fascinating (albeit scary) things to share about how we're treating our eyes. You can listen back to our chat here:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/nights/audio/2018937211/the-vision-bus-treating-auckland-kids-for-free

07/05/2024

If you're the type of person who carefully traps spiders between a piece of paper and cup to release them outside, have you ever wondered if you're doing the right thing?

Well tonight we will be talking to Fiona Cross - "Doctor Spider" to help answer the question: Do the spiders you put outside live or die?

Let us know below if you kill spiders on the spot, or you happily share your home with them or maybe you're a release outside type of person?

03/05/2024

Did you catch our I was There When segment last night? Producer Tim went down a bit of a rabbit hole trying to find out if Wellington university students sent $2000 to the North Vietnamese to purchase a tank in the 1970s. Peter Cullen was the Victoria University Student Association's president in 1972 so we went to him to find out the truth.

In 1972, the Victoria University students' association raised $2000 for the Vietnam War - but did it go to the Viet Cong for the purchase of a tank?

02/05/2024

Finding new friends as an adult can be difficult at the best of times. But our Agony Aunt Courtney Dawson has some tips for those looking to expand their social circles.

Nights' resident Agony Aunt, comedian Courtney Dawson, is back and ready to answer your quandaries, your palavers, your misgivings.

24/04/2024

Good lord.

Listener Lisa emailed this in last night:

"Kia ora Emile,

I've noticed you look remarkably like this ceramic sculpture that looks judgmentally down upon my dining nook. Image of you for comparison..."

What do you think?

-Emile

22/04/2024

We're in for a treat tonight.

At 10:15pm I'm chatting with the legendary Ginette McDonald (also known as Lynn of Tawa) off the back of the Ginette McDonald collection being released on NZ On Screen.

Check out the collection here:

https://www.nzonscreen.com/collection/ginette-mcdonald

19/04/2024

Had a great chat with Frances Loo last night about the skyrocketing popularity of romance fiction. She owns Chapter Book & Tea Shop in Auckland's Mount Eden and hosts a romance readers club. She even brought along a title for us to have a peruse...

Have a listen here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/nights/audio/2018934871/why-more-new-zealanders-are-reading-romance-novels

11/04/2024

Champion axe thrower Britt Austin in the studio with me tonight. Armed and dangerous (important disclaimer: it’s not a weapon, it’s sports equipment)

Help her get to the World Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma here:

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-britt-axecess-the-world-axe-throwing-champs?ref=home&ref_code=donation_feed

11/04/2024

We're sharing favourite poems on Nights tonight, with Poet Laureate Chris Tse joining us at 9:30pm to take us on a crash course on how to read and understand poetry.

What's your fav?

10/04/2024

Twinkling near or twinkling far,
Could you be a Nights quiz star?
Wednesday night could be your time,
(If you know your nursery rhymes…)
Listen in from 8 o’clock,
And get in touch to shoot your shot

10/04/2024

It's 'the ultimate in democratised art': seen by everyone, owned by no one.

Tonight, we have street artist Paul X Walsh coming into the studio. This is his mural to honour the victims of the Christchurch mosque attack.

Got any questions for him?

05/04/2024

What a treat to chat with local legend Julia McCarthy-Fox earlier in the week. Well-deserving of her ruby gemstone marble that she finally got her hands on at this year's champs!

After helming her fifth British and World Marbles Championships, Julia McCarthy-Fox is packing up the little glass balls for another year. The annual event – held every Good Friday in an English pub car park – showcases a "very clever" sport that resembles snooker, she tells Emile Donovan.

03/04/2024

Playing your first dance songs from your weddings on the Jukebox tonight. Some classics! Some… interesting choices.

What was yours?

02/04/2024

Does your work kitchen resemble a rubbish tip or is it so immaculately clean you could actually eat your lunch off it?

After 10.45pm tonight we're speaking to Dr Libby Sander whose research has found the state of an office's communal kitchen can be a good indicator of overall culture.

We also want hear your horror stories about filthy kitchens and awfully organised dishwashers. Leave a comment below or send us an email.

27/03/2024

This was a lovely chat with Mike Eastwood. Cin cin 🥂

People have met lifelong friends and even spouses at the Wellington dinners, which marked their 25th anniversary this week.

27/03/2024

Agony Aunt Courtney Dawson is back in the studio next Wednesday to dole out wisdom.

Send in your problems to [email protected]

19/03/2024

Last night Emile spoke to author Matt Altman about Shigeichi Negishi the man credited with being the first to invent the karaoke machine in 1967. Since then Japan has exported karaoke to the world.

What are you go to karaoke songs? Let us know in the comments!

Despite karaoke's global success, Shigeichi Negishi's death in January went relatively unnoticed. Author Matt Alt tells Nights about the pioneer.

18/03/2024

If you were listening around 8.30pm last night you might have heard us play Overkill by Motörhead as part of our Nights Jukebox segment.

It was prompted by this is the letter sent by Lemmy fan Sid to RNZ headquarters.

If like Sid you also have an extremely strong desire to hear your favourite band or song on the radio flick us a message with a compelling reason and story behind the pick.

You can reach us here on Facebook or on email at [email protected] We even accept posted letters, in fact we love them!

18/03/2024

Happy Monday, everyone. The Nights quiz is unabashedly IRISH tonight🍀feeling lucky? Text 2101!

17/03/2024

Have you got a burning question sitting in the back of your mind that a Google search won't help with? So did Nights listener Chris, he wanted to know why no one has the number 021 000 0000.

So we went straight to the top and asked One New Zealand chief technology officer Tony Baird.

If you also have a burning question or shower thought you want answered let us know.

Leave a comment below or send us an email at [email protected]

Listener Chris wants to know why no one has the phone number 021 000 0000? One NZ picked up the phone to tell us.

08/03/2024

For those who missed it: I spoke to the incredible Dr Jeya Wilson last night for our I Was There When segment. What a life she's led. Rubbing shoulders with David Lange and Boris Johnson at the Oxford Union is just the tip of the iceberg.

Have a listen.

-Emile

No-one could have predicted the twists and turns Wilson's life would take - nor the names you can connect her with - Obama, Johnson, Lange - and more.

06/03/2024

'Twas a very enlightening chat with Fergus Barrowman last night for Shower Thoughts.

You can send in your curious question to [email protected] and we'll get to the bottom of it.

Mike in Auckland asks: how much of the price of a book actually goes to the author? VUP publisher Fergus Barrowman lays it all out.

29/02/2024

Tonight for I Was There When... we're going to the Oscars.

The Oscars twenty years ago to be precise, when a little old film called Lord of the Rings: Return of the King swept all 11 categories it was in the running for, including for costume design and makeup, the work of our very own Wētā Workshop.

I'm talking to Wētā Workshop's co-founder and workshop manager Tania Rodger (pictured below on Oscar night, how flash) and art director Daniel Falconer at 9:15pm. Don't miss it!

-Emile

28/02/2024

Today is the rarest of the rare. February 29 comes around only once four years and if you're lucky enough - or unlucky enough depending on your point of view - to have a birthday, wedding anniversary or any other milestone on this auspicious day we want to hear from you! Either leave a comment below or send us an email [email protected].

28/02/2024

Incredibly bad news about Newshub today. Ominous bells tolling for the sector.

One thing's for sure. It's going to be a fascinating Midweek Mediawatch with Colin Peacock tonight at 9:30pm. Tune in, send in your questions!

-Emile

26/02/2024

Back in the seat for the new start time of 8pm 🪩

Music, quiz, sports… all that good stuff tonight. Tune in.

22/02/2024

Thrilled to be speaking with Bill Logan this evening for our weekly segment of I Was There When.

Bill was one of the many campaigners pushing for homosexual law reform in New Zealand, culminating in a law change in 1986.

Questions for Bill? Leave a comment or email [email protected]

-Emile

22/02/2024

You might have heard there are some changes happening here at RNZ National. From next week Nights will be starting a little later, following Wallace Chapman who’ll be on air from 6-8pm. But don't worry we will still be here to inform and entertain you from 8pm to Midnight Monday to Friday.

21/02/2024

T-minus 3.5 hours til quiz time, and tonight's theme is all about filling in the blank with your ABCs ...

14/02/2023

Spot tonight’s co-host (not called Spot btw but... Luna!)