Nights

8:10 Wayne Brown skips first mayoral debate 

It's just until a month until voting opens for this year's local body elections.

Up here in Auckland the first full mayoral debate of the campaign was held last night by the University of Auckland Debating Society.

The incumbent, mayor Wayne Brown, didn't show up. What does that say about how he views the race - and his chances?

NZ Herald senior writer Simon Wilson was moderating the debate and joins Emile Donovan to discuss.

8:30 Midweek Mediawatch

Hayden Donnell joins Emile Donovan for the final time to debrief the week in media news.

Tonight he's taking a look at slightly strange story which lead TVNZ's 6pm news, NZME's Editorial Board gets appointed, and the latest radio ratings show some promise for RNZ.

Before his departure Hayden gives us his thoughts on the state of the media.

9:05 Nights Riddle

Now for something completely different: listen into the show from 8:00pm to get clues for tonight's riddle. First correct guesser wins.

Text 2101 or email nights@rnz.co.nz

9:15 Space with Ezzy Pearson

Time now to turn our gaze to the far reaches of space with a new voice here on Nights.

Ezzy Pearson is an expert in all things space, with more than a decade of experience in science journalism, including as Features Editor of BBC’s Sky at Night magazine.

She’s also the author of Robots in Space: The Secret Lives of Our Planetary Explorers and holds a PhD in Astrophysics from Cardiff University. 

9:35 Finding beauty in the fakes and forgeries

Every two years, a gallery in Mangaweka holds a competition for who can create the best forgery artworks: practices otherwise frowned upon in the art world.

Previous years have showcased rip-off van Goghs and fake Cézanne. They're accepting submissions now for the exhibition in October.

Richard Aslett is the owner of the Yellow Church gallery in Mangaweka and he speaks to Emile Donovan.

9:45 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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10:17 The Detail

Tonight on the Detail - As the natural gas supply dwindles, a glasshouse tomato grower fears for its future, and the future of growing food in New Zealand 

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10:45 The Reading: Rocking Horse Road

Jason Whyte reads episode 3 of Rocking Horse Road by Carl Nixon 

After her violent death on the beach at the end of Rocking Horse Road, Lucy Asher takes on the status of a deity for a group of boys in the school . . . As her high priests  they must revenge her murder

11:07 RNZ Music: Crossing the Ditch with Nick Bollinger

In 'Crossing The Ditch' Nick Bollinger takes a look at Australia and New Zealand's shared musical history and listens to a few of the songs and songwriters that have crossed the Tasman.