Nights for Tuesday 27 February 2024

8:08 The House

Legislation, issues and insights from Parliament.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, has told a select committee that New Zealand’s diplomatic presence overseas must grow, despite government plans to reduce spending in his ministry.

8:15 Pacific Waves

A daily current affairs programme that delves deeper into the major stories of the week, through a Pacific lens, and shines a light on issues affecting Pacific people wherever they are in the world. Hosted by Susana Suisuiki.

Follow this podcast

8:30 Jukebox

Emile Donovan plays your requests - as long as you've got a compelling reason, or a good story with it.

Send in your picks to nights@rnz.co.nz or text 2101.

9:07 Nights Quiz

Do you know your stuff? Come on the air and be grilled by Emile Donovan as he dons his quizmaster hat.

If you get an answer right, you move on to the next question. If you get it wrong, your time in the chair is up, and the next caller will be put through. The person with the most correct answers at the end of the run goes in the draw for a weekly prize.

The quiz is themed - find out more about tonight's theme on Nights' Facebook page.

9:15 Shower Thoughts: Why aren't clothing sizes the same around the world?

Today's ponderous Shower Thought comes courtesy of Trudy in Christchurch: why don't we standardise clothes sizes? Why do women's sizes start at 6 and go up in increments of 2? Why is a size 10 in New Zealand different in Australia, the UK, and America? Has the world gone mad?

To answer, Kiwi fashion expert Paul Blomfield joins Emile Donovan.

9:30 Politics by Night with Thomas Coughlan

NZME deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan joins Emile Donovan to cover the government's education review, NZTA's warning over fiscal holes in new transport projects, and the Bill to repeal the Māori Health Authority being ushered through the House tonight under urgency.

10:17 Deadly avian flu detected on Antarctic mainland

The deadly H5N1 avian influenza strain, also know as bird flu, is one step closer to arriving on our shores after it was detected on the Antarctic mainland at the weekend.

It has already killed millions of animals globally and there are fears it could pose a real threat to Aotearoa's endangered bird life.

Professor Jemma Geoghegan from the University of Otago's virology team joins Emile Donovan.

10:30 League fan writes pronunciation guide for Māori and Pasifika names

If you're a fan of Rugby League and the NRL you've no doubt heard commentators mangling the names of Māori and Pasifika players.

Nearly fifty percent of League players have Māori and Pasifika heritage.

While there has been more of an effort made in the past few years to get it right, there are still times when fans are left shaking their heads as a commentator gets it wrong. 

Kiwi league fan Stephen Gallagher is doing his bit to change that. 

He has created a comprehensive pronunciation guide for all 510 players listed in the competition's first grade men's teams.

Ahead of the new season kicking of this weekend, Stephen joins Emile Donovan.

10:45 The storied history of Premier House

Prime minister Christopher Luxon hosted Australian cricketers on the grounds of Premier House today, and was reported to have told one of them that Premier House was "condemned" - in an unlivable state.

He denies he used the word, but it's well known that the official residence on Tinakori Road, now well over 150-years old, is in need of some serious renovations.

Bruce Lynch is the president of the Thorndon Society in Wellington and he joins Emile Donovan to share some of the house's history.

11:07 Worlds of Music

Trevor Reekie hosts a weekly music programme celebrating an eclectic mix of 'world' music, fusion and folk roots.

Tonight, music from Anandi Bhattacharya, Duo Sabil, Manu Dibango and more.