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Nights for Thursday 29 February 2024

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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.

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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.

8:45 The Reading

Tonight, part four of the novel 'Fake Baby' written by Amy McDaid, read here by Alisha Jacob and Nigel Collins.

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 I Was There When: Lord of the Rings swept the Oscars

Every Thursday, Nights talks to people who were there when a piece of New Zealand history took place.

And today, the 29th of February, is the 20th anniversary of when Lord of the Rings: Return of the King swept the 76th Academy Awards with a record-breaking 11 Oscars.

They won every category they were nominated in, including for costume design and makeup - the work of New Zealand's very own Wētā Workshop.

A large group of people, at least 100, standing on an outdoor film set. The ground is sandy, and the group is staggered up a cliff face, with flags sticking out of the fake cliff.

The entire crew who worked on Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. Photo: Wētā Workshop / Supplied

Wētā Workshop co-founder and workshop manager Tania Rodger and senior art director Daniel Falconer join Emile Donovan to reflect on the making of the films and the impact their success had on the New Zealand film industry.

Tania and Richard stand side by side holding Oscars. They are both in fancy dress, Tania wearing a silvery blue ball gown and Richard wearing a black suit with satiny lapels.

Tania Rodger and Richard Taylor on the night of the 76th Academy Awards in 2004, holding the Oscars Return of the King received for Best Costume Design and Best Makeup. Photo: Wētā Workshop / Supplied

9:40 Do you know your neighbours?

Over the past few decades, New Zealanders have shifted the way they live to lead more individual lives. The social role of the neighbourhood for support and friendship has diminished for some.

Neighbours Aotearoa wants to buck the trend.

In the month of March, they're encouraging neighbourhoods across the country to get together and make new connections. 

Lead connector Lucette Hindin joins Emile Donovan.

A group of people sitting on green plastic deck chairs carrying plastic cups and smiling at the camera. There are many more people barbecuing and chatting in the background.

Over the past five years, Neighbours Aotearoa has facilitated over 3,000 neighbourhood activities, like barbecues, clothes swaps, and sharing seeds. Photo: Neighbours Aotearoa

10:17 Does New Zealand need to rethink schooling?

The shaky state of education is making itself apparent from every angle.

School rebuilds are being scrapped because of cost blow outs, NCEA achievement continues to drop, and fewer kids are actually turning up to class. 

Professor John Morgan from the University of Auckland's faculty of education and social work believes there needs to be a debate around what the aims and purposes of schooling are and what we want from our schools.

He joins Emile Donovan.

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Photo: Unsplash

10:30 Slaying the data-mining dragon

A new report has found seven out of ten Australians feel they have little or no control over how their data is being used online, with many expressing anger, frustration and distrust.

The tools to regulate data tracking already exist. Where is the action?

Kent Newman is a teaching fellow at Victoria University of Wellington and he joins Emile Donovan.

10:45 Online conspiracies abound over Kate Middleton's absence

In January, Kate Middleton underwent abdominal surgery for an undisclosed issue.

While the palace has said she is recovering well at home, she has not been seen since. 

Then this week her husband William, the Prince of Wales and our future king, pulled out of a memorial service because of a 'personal matter'.

This latest development has sent thousands of internet sleuths into a spin with all sort of speculation as to why Kate is missing from her subjects' view. 

The Spinoff's Anna Rawhiti-Connell fell into the web of conspiracies herself, and joins Emile Donovan to share.

Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince George of Wales (left) leave after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate in eastern England, on 25 December, 2023.

Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince George of Wales (left) leave after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate in eastern England, on 25 December, 2023. Photo: AFP / Adrian Dennis

11:07 The Mixtape

Charlotte Ryan is back with another instalment of The Mixtape.

Our guest this week is Shona McCullagh, the outgoing artistic director of the Auckland Arts Festival.

Shona has received a New Zealand Order of Merit for services to dance, and her songs for the Mixtape reflect her life as a choreographer, dancer, filmmaker and arts laureate.