Shows / Nights
Nights
Tune in to Nights with Emile Donovan every weekday from 8pm to midnight for a delectable buffet of creative ideas, open-minded conversations, music, musings and daily stimulation.
Episodes
- Nights
Is a sleeper train between Auckland and Wellington really feasible?
The Greens want to bring back an overnight passenger train between the two cities. On paper, it sounds simple enough. But is it?
- Nights
A family affair: Father and daughter update freshwater field guide
Peter Hamill first put together a field guide to Marlborough’s freshwater plants and animals more than twenty years ago.
- Nights
Is the overhang a threat to MMP itself?
Extra seats being added to Parliament because a party has one more electorate seat than its share of the party vote would normally give it is nothing new. But…
- Nights
Out Lately with Finn Johansson
He's back, and no doubt ready to inform, educate and entertain us with an array of eclectic music.
- Nights
Auckland's Button Fest
Auckland's Hannah Bennett is the founder of Thread Lightly and runs community events that are all about helping people donate, swap and take fabric and craft…
- Nights
The Kiwi muso becoming a Silk Way Star
We've seen many a kiwi representing us on the world stage... But what about representing us on a televised singing competition in China?
- Nights
All aboard for Aotearoa’s biggest model train show
Tomorrow, New Zealand's biggest model train show pulls into Christchurch's Cowles Stadium.
- Nights
Left brain, right brain: What does the science actually say?
For years, we’ve been told personality types might come down to whether we’re more “left-brained” or “right-brained." But how much of that is actually true?
- Nights
Lawrence Patchett on new collection Have This Heart
Lawrence Patchett joins Emile Donovan to discuss his new short story collection, Have This Heart.
- Nights
Short-cuts with Dan Slevin
Night's resident screen critic joins Emile Donovan to review: Verity (In Cinemas), Anemone (Netflix), and The Social Network (TVNZ+).
- Nights
Danyl McLauchlan on Francis Spufford's "Red Plenty"
Friend of the show, writer and all-round thinker Danyl McLauchlan, joins us to explore some of the best political novels of the 21st century.
- Nights
The great golden retriever gathering
This weekend, nearly 200 golden retrievers and their humans are getting together in Taupō for what promises to be a pretty spectacular sea of gold.
- Nights
The rules have changed but do barriers still remain for ADHD treatment?
According to our guest, who's been writing about this for The Conversation, these changes have highlighted a new issue, that "having more potential prescribers…
- Nights
Julia de Bres marks 50th Nights' appearance
It's time for our fortnightly chat with Nights' resident sociolinguist, associate professor Julia de Bres.
- Nights
European correspondent Christian Smith
Christian Smith dials in from London with news from the other side of the world.
- Nights
The teenage boys with their own sewing club
Every Monday after school, a handful of Westlake boys swap their blazers for sewing machines.
- Nights
How can we get our birth rates up?
Countries all around the world are dealing with a shared challenge... ageing populations and fewer babies.
- Nights
What's It Like Living in the Faroe Islands?
Made up of 18 islands in the North Atlantic, the Faroes can feel like a world of their own. Lucky for us, we've got just the person to give us the lowdown.
- Nights
Where to next for New Zealand’s economy?
Earlier today we got a look at Treasury's Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update. So what is going on? Where ARE we heading?
- Nights
Shower Thoughts: How do you prepare a cricket pitch?
Joining Emile on the show, from the Palmerston North City Council, is Sports Grounds Team Leader, Andy May.
- Nights
The Dial-Up with Anna Rawhiti-Connell
It's time for us to get up to speed. To tune into the zeitgeist. To chat about what's happening in pop-culture and the world wide web.
- Nights
Retro toys take over Tauranga at Toytopia
Many of us have fond memories of Care Bears, Jem Dolls, Barbies, Sega, GI-Joes... but Tauranga's Melody Wehipeihana has taken it to the next level.
- Nights
Are we blurring the line between smoking & vaping?
We all know that by definition, they're different. But according to our guest tonight, blurring the lines between the two could be harmful.
- Nights
The Stanford Prison Experiment gets a reality TV makeover
If you cast your mind back you might remember the infamous 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment which saw a group of students divided into prisoners and guards …
- Nights
Sports with Ben Strang
Journalist and commentator Ben Strang joins the show with the latest sports news. Tonight, we're talking about Man City's charges, South American cricket and…
- Nights
Small Histories with Emma Kay
Every Monday, 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…
- Nights
Family recipes needed for Auckland Heritage Festival
Auckland's Heritage Festival has just kicked off - and amongst the many events that will run for the next two weeks, one special display has caught our eye…
- Nights
What's going on with the ozone?
It's time to chat about something that fascinates kiwis young and old - it's the ozone layer. Turns out there's a giant ozone hole above the Antarctic right…
- Nights
Out Lately with Finn Johannson
He's back, and no doubt ready to inform, educate and entertain us with an array of eclectic music.
- Nights
From farming to country singer: Triggar Happy's story
His albums Talk Is Cheap and Love Loyalty Respect both hit #1 on the Top 20 Aotearoa Album Charts and he's recently dropped his latest single, Crank It Up.
- Nights
The Southland couple keeping heritage apple varieties alive
Some people love to collect stamps. For others, its old records... maybe comic books, or even action figures. For our guests tonight - it's apples.
- Nights
Photographer John Miller at the 18th Biennale of Contemporary Art
The 76-year-old has photographed some of the most significant events in Aotearoa New Zealand in the past 60 years.
- Nights
Stars shine at Alexandra's Blossom Festival
As well as parades - decorated floats - a motorcross display - and the World Panning Championships... legendary kiwi performer Sharon O'Neil will be taking the…
- Nights
Why we mix up words and phrases
According to our guest it's all pretty common - even for native English speakers - and processes in our brains might be to blame.
- Nights
Short-cuts with Dan Slevin
Nights' resident screen critic joins to review: Hill Street Blues (Disney+), Heart of the Beast (In Cinemas), and Fantastic Mr Fox (ThreeNow).
- Nights
As we age, is the home we have still the home we need?
How can you make wise decisions around this tricky topic - knowing what to change, what to keep, and when it's time to downsize or move on.
- Nights
‘Head start’ council amalgamations paused until after election
It's a non-decision that's left many around the country fuming.
- Nights
Two Mates 1 Chair: Making adventure accessible
When Fletcher Crowley broke his back in a mountain biking accident at 17, he was left paraplegic. During his rehab he reconnected with old school mate, Lachie…
- Nights
European correspondent Christian Smith
Christian Smith dials in from London with news from the other side of the world.
- Nights
First-time buyers upending the market
Now it's time to chat about the property market and how things are changing for first-time buyers. A great Stuff piece by Janika ter Ellen today has outlined a…
- Nights
Nights at the Museum: Australia's Mad Max Museum
It's time to showcase another unusual museum. Tonight's feature: a 42-year Mad Max obsession in the middle of the Australian outback.
- Nights
Shower Thoughts: What is glue?
Here to tell us all about it is University of Otago Chemistry associate professor, Dr Anna Garden.
- Nights
Foreign Affairs with Anna Fifield
Ordinarily we talk about a wide range of local and international topics but tonight we're dedicating the whole slot to one person: Winston Peters.
- Nights
Is hating on referees' part of the game or should we all be doing better?
From kids' games - to the most elite level - headlines about referees copping abuse are all too common.
- Nights
When movie sets were really paintings
Filmmakers have long been finding clever ways to fool our eyes - and one of those tricks has been hiding in plain sight for more than a century.
- Nights
Sports with Ben Strang
Tonight, we're talking The Warriors, The WNBA, and Scotland's ghost golf course.
- Nights
Small Histories with Emma Kay
This week our resident historian, Emma Kay, is taking a look at NZ's connections to The Titanic.
- Nights
Waipū's Granny Grommets
It's time to head to Waipū to meet a group of women over 50 who are all about getting out in the water, grabbing a board and making connections.
- Nights
Supermarket policy wars heat up
Labour released their plan, meanwhile, National are keen on a separation of New World & PAK'nSAVE. So, what should we make of these approaches?
- Nights
Out Lately with Finn Johansson
He's back, and no doubt ready to inform, educate and entertain us with an array of eclectic music.
- Nights
The border collie who became a Canterbury legend
If you ever traveled on the TranzAlpine through Canterbury in the late 80's or 90's, there's a chance you might remember Rosie.
- Nights
Switchboards to smartphones: communication history at MOTAT
This Sunday they're having a live communications day where you can learn how technology has changed over time.
- Nights
Inside Hamilton's new Medieval Garden
In just a few days' time - September 24th - their hotly anticipated latest offering will be opening.
- Nights
Nick Tipping on defining Jazz
We like to think we know Jazz when we hear it - but what actually defines that sound?
- Nights
Short-cuts with Dan Slevin
Nights' resident screen critic reviews: Coyote vs. Acme (In Cinemas), The Akira Kurosawa Collection (Home Video), and Furious (Disney+).
- Nights
Danyl McLauchlan on Hari Kunzu's "Red Pill"
Friend of the show, writer and all-round thinker, Danyl McLauchlan, joins us to explore some of the best political novels of the 21st century.
- Nights
Meet the 2026 Penguin of the Year
Ocean is a one-eyed kororā, who's gone from rescue and rehabilitation, to taking out the National Aquarium's top penguin title.
- Nights
Is the Covid response still a voter issue?
Political Editor at The Post Henry Cooke has posed an interested question: "Are voters as angry about Covid as politicians think they are?"
- Nights
Julia de Bres on the multilingual world of Luxembourg
It's time for our fortnightly chat with Nights' resident sociolinguist, associate professor Julia de Bres.
- Nights
European correspondent Christian Smith
Christian Smith dials in from London with news from the other side of the world.