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
The Gisborne academy raising the next generation of darts stars
What began as a place where local kids could find belonging has since grown into a community of up-and-coming darts players.
- Nights
Short-cuts with Dan Slevin
Nights' resident screen critic joins Emile Donovan to review: Young Washington, The American Revolution, The Civil War, and The New Zealand Wars.
- Nights
Twenty years on, should Pluto be a planet?
It's been two decades since Pluto was demoted from its planet status - but the debate still rages on - so why do we still care?
- Nights
MBIE contempt finding raises questions over accountability
MBIE chief executive Nic Blakeley has found himself at the centre of a pretty serious controversy after being found to have deliberately misled Parliament.
- Nights
Can AI systems develop their own agency?
Computer scientists say that for something to have goals, it must first have agency. So how can we tell where agency emerges?
- Nights
European correspondent Christian Smith
Christian Smith dials in from London with news from the other side of the world.
- Nights
Why we keep seeing animals in our ads
Now of course, cute critters in advertising - that's nothing new - but lately, they seem to be making quite the comeback.
- Nights
The looming aged care staffing crisis
A new report warns that our current system won't be able to cope with the projected rise of aging kiwis.
- Nights
Nights at The Museum: Wales' Morbitorium
Tonight we kick off a new feature where we talk to people who look after slightly unusual museum collections around the world!
- Nights
Shower Thought: Are police cars different to normal cars?
It's that time of the week here on RNZ Nights, when we as answer those unshakeable questions lurking at the back of your mind.
- Nights
Foreign affairs with Anna Fifield
Joining us fortnightly is author and writer Anna Fifield. Tonight, she's looking at fears across Asia that the US is withdrawing from the region.
- Nights
What will the future of robots look like?
Robots have already started to revolutionize many areas of life - so we wanted to find out what it might look like in the future.
- Nights
The history of hoodies
Hoodies, they're comfy, warm and they look cool. But where did hoodies come from, and how did they come to be everywhere?
- Nights
Sports with Ben Strang
Tonight, we're talking the All Blacks, gambling and alcohol restrictions, English cricket controversy, and robot athletes.
- Nights
Small Histories with Emma Kay
This week Emma is taking a look at the history of when NZ was a Dominion.
- Nights
Where have all our spiritual leaders gone?
A recent piece by Verity Johnson in Stuff has raised a very interesting question - has New Zealand run out of spiritual leaders?
- Nights
How will the social media ban for under-16s work?
This afternoon the government announced that they are moving to ban social media ban for under-16-year-olds. But how will it work?
- 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
Why Big Buddy needs more men to step up
For over 27-years, they've matched boys without dads in their lives with positive male mentors. But now, they don’t have enough men to go around.
- Nights
Extreme heat impacts Italy's famous foods
We all know how hot it's been in places like Italy this summer - and it's been affecting some of the country's best-known food.
- Nights
Hitting every golf course across the country
Our guest tonight, Aaron Bird, reckons there are 379 courses across the country - and he's trying to play every single one of them.
- Nights
What can we learn from the Ancient Greeks?
If you're a lover of marble architecture, rich mythology, the Olympics or perhaps The Odyssey - then you're in for a treat.
- Nights
Craig Cliff on new book Offshore Service and Other Stories
Sixteen years and two novels later, he’s back with a second collection celebrating the short form with Offshore Service and Other Stories.
- Nights
Short-cuts with Dan Slevin
Nights' resident screen critic joins Emile Donovan to review: Sugar (Apple TV), Tony (In Cinemas), & Gavin Shoebridge’s EV motoring reviews (YouTube).
- Nights
Are smart glasses putting our privacy at risk?
The eyewear, which can capture video, photos and audio have been used to secretly record people. So - is this the end of privacy as we know it?
- Nights
Teaching an old drum new tricks
Grant Boddington runs Drum Set Rescue, where old, broken and unwanted drum kits are given a second life.
- Nights
European correspondent Christian Smith
Christian Smith dials in from London with news from the other side of the world.
- Nights
Julia de Bres on language & pain
It's time for our fortnightly chat with Nights' resident sociolinguist, associate professor Julia de Bres.
- Nights
The eye-watering cost of home ownership
Some really 'youch' figures were reported today in a Stuff piece around the rising costs of home ownership. So, does the cost of home ownership still stack up?
- Nights
What's it like living in Guam?
Here to give us the lowdown on everyday life in Guam is painter and lifelong Guam local Michelle Pier.
- Nights
Shower Thoughts: can you get addicted to a nasal spray?
It's that time of the week.... when we turn to those curious questions, we call here on RNZ Nights, Shower Thoughts.
- Nights
What's going on with our domestic netball league?
Our domestic league is facing a brain drain with upwards of 15 talented players expected to head offshore.
- Nights
Pop culture with Anna Rawhiti-Connell
Joining us tonight, for what's going to become a regular segment on Nights, is Anna Rawhiti- Connell.
- Nights
How are the Greens shaping up ahead of the election?
Despite recent supermarket pricing headlines, the party, co-lead by Chloe Swarbrick and Marama Davidson, seem to be taking a bit more of a back seat.
- Nights
Small Histories with Emma Kay
This week Emma is taking a look at the history of seafaring to our fair shores.
- Nights
The retired farmer keeping shepherd's crooks alive
Graeme Williamson spent 60 years farming with a shepherd’s crook never far from reach - and eventually learned how to make them himself.
- Nights
When will Auckland get a second harbour bridge?
Chris Bishop said that the project would likely be the largest and most expensive infrastructure project ever undertaken in New Zealand.
- 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
Can you learn how to be funny?
Tutor at the New Zealand Comedy School in Wellington, Neil Thornton, joins the show tonight to share what goes into training aspiring stand-up comedians.
- Nights
The new dad survival guide
Zachary Perez's funny & honest guide helps soon-to-be and new dads navigate the whirlwind of early fatherhood.
- Nights
Exploring Dunedin one building at a time
A new walking guide is here to help us explore the stories and history behind the buildings of Ōtepoti Dunedin.
- Nights
Simon Lendrum returns with new book Burn Card
After the success of his debut novel, The Slow Roll, he's back once again with his second novel, Burn Card.
- Nights
Short-cuts with Dan Slevin
Nights' resident screen critic joins Emile Donovan to review: The End of Oak Street (In Cinemas), Voicemails for Isabelle (Netflix), and Sasquatch Sunset…
- Nights
Political/Philosophy with Natalia Albert
Tonight, she's here to talk about the last 72 hours in New Zealand politics.
- Nights
Why some songs hit us right in the feels
Have you ever been listening to a song and found yourself thinking - hang on, did they write this about me?
- Nights
Is it time to cut back on insurance?
We've all watched our insurance premiums climb, whether it's for our cars, our homes or the contents inside them. Do we actually need all this insurance?
- Nights
Slowing down on fast fashion
In a world of fast fashion - sewing your own clothes might be the ultimate way to slow down.
- Nights
Live at the 2026 Pacific Music Awards
The Pacific Music Awards are back for their 22nd year - with 33 artists up for awards.
- Nights
European correspondent Christian Smith
Christian Smith dials in from London with news from the other side of the world.
- Nights
St James Theatre celebrates 90 years in Gore
As a home for cinema and live performance, it's entertained generations of Southlanders.
- Nights
Luxon lives to see another day as PM
After a three-hour caucus meeting this morning, National MPs have backed Luxon in a confidence vote. But is he really in the clear?
- Nights
Who will be the next UN Secretary-general?
The selection process is already underway - so, who's in the running, what does the job actually involve, and how much influence comes with the role?
- Nights
What can volcanoes teach us about making the perfect espresso?
As it turns out, scientists reckon volcanoes could hold the answer to pulling the perfect espresso shot. So, how does that work?
- Nights
Foreign affairs with Anna Fifield
Tonight, she joins to discuss the Pacific Islands Forum held in Fiji last week, and Vietnamese leader To Lam's official visit to New Zealand tomorrow.
- Nights
Do we need tighter rules for political ads?
While we can all appreciate some clever graphic design and wordplay - some ads have raised concerns as being potentially misleading.
- Nights
Can Christopher Luxon survive as National's leader?
Less than three months out from the election, National MPs are reportedly discussing whether Luxon should remain in the top job.
- Nights
Is there a future for political cartooning?
Can cartooning survive in the current media environment? And what is the state of political cartooning in this country?