Nights for Wednesday 20 March 2024

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

Did you ever hear something on the radio that rocked your world, and after hearing it nothing seemed the same again?

Tonight, Michele Amas reading part three of a four-part story 'Cotton-Eyed Joe' written by Susy Pointon.

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 What's behind New Zealand's low fertility rates?

Every month Stats NZ joins Nights to find out what statistics can tell us about life in New Zealand.

Tonight: birth rates, fertility rates, and where our birth data goes, with Stats NZ population insights analyst Rebekah Hennessey.

9:30 Midweek Mediawatch

Hayden Donnell joins Emile Donovan to debrief the week in media.

This week the media takes a beating from its old foe Winston Peters, the morals around reporting a hot-mic moment from the Prime Minister, and just how many journalism jobs are there left in New Zealand?

10:17 Grant Robertson bows out of Parliament with valedictory speech

Earlier today former Labour deputy prime minister and finance minister Grant Robertson drew the curtains on his 15-year parliamentary career.

During the nearly 40-minute speech he touched on his successes, failures and also included some gentle and humorous barbs thrown his now former colleagues' way.

But what about those who are on the other side of politics, what did they think of the speech and Robertson's legacy.

To help us answer that we're joined by former National MP and attorney-general Chris Finlayson.

10:30 What you need to know about the Autumn Equinox

Today is Wednesday. The middle of the working week.  It's also the equinox - the middle of the sky - where the sun crosses the celestial equator, and day and night are approximately the same length.

So if you weren't commiserating the end of summer yet, now's probably a good time to start.

To tell us more about what's going on up above, we're joined by MetService meteorologist John Law

10:45 CDs, cassette tapes and VHS reaching cult status

Forget vinyl, it's CDs young people want to get their hands on these days.

Sellers say that physical media like CDs, cassette tapes and VHS are increasingly achieving cult status in New Zealand.

In fact, you might have a goldmine sitting in a box in your garage, collecting dust.

Apa Hutt of Creeps Record Parlour in Wellington joins Emile Donovan

11:07 Pocket Edition 

On this week's episode of Pocket Edition Maggie Tweedie shares new music from Yumi Zouma and the American Alternative Jangle pop band Real Estate. 

And we visit the cold landscapes of Iceland with Post Classical pianist Rose Riebl and Bjork.