Nights on RNZ National

11/07/2024

James Mustapic a man of refined taste confirmed

James Mustapic joins us for Bookmarks

Spoiler alert - he doesn't read, but does love country music. He even tried to sneak in some Dixon Dallas (CC RNZ Nights on RNZ National 😜)

🎙 link in the comments

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.