Nights for Wednesday 18 December 2019 Nights

War Reporting - Are We Doing it Wrong?

9:30 PM.Bette Dam is an investigative journalist who having worked on and in Afghanistan as a war reporter, questions whether western journalism only helps to promote war. Read more Audio
Shipwrecked

7:12 PM.Historian Gavin Mclean was at one time a regular contributor on Nights, joining us every three months or so with another fascinating story from our maritime history. Sadly Gavin died earlier this… Read more Audio, Gallery

Photo: Oratia Publishers

Before his untimely death in April, maritime history expert Gavin McLean was working on the book Shipwrecked, his definitive history of the tragedies that have plagued New Zealand shipping since the first waka reached our shores from Polynesia.

Shipwrecked front cover.

Gavin McLean

The Union Company’s recently acquired ‘Irish County’ steamer Tyrone made landfall the hard way on 0400 on 27 September 1913, when she ran ashore off Wahine Point at Otago Heads. It was so well insured that the company made a tidy gain on the payout. Gavin McLean collection

The largest vessel to date wrecked on the coast of the South Island, the Tyrone struck on the rocks just south of Otago Heads early in the morning of 27 September 1913. The primary cause was put down to heavy fog, which capping the land, obscured the light on Taiaroa Head, and rendered it impossible to determine the direction of the fog signals that were heard from the lighthouse. She eventually settled, broadside, on Wahine Point and before long the pounding sea pushed her onto the rocks and the hull broke in two. Eric Heath

A wave breaks over the bow of the Pacific Charger. The 10,000-ton bulk carrier hit rocks at Baring Head near the entrance to Wellington Harbour on 21 May 1981. Evening Post

Running aground during a severe storm on 24 June 1878, the wreck had become something of a local celebrity by the early 1900s — a muse of sketch artists and source of interest for visitors to nearby Foxton. Eric Heath

Wellington’s first purpose-built patrol launch, the Lady Elizabeth II entered service in 1941. After 13 years of service during which she was responsible for saving hundreds of people and millions of dollars’ worth of shipping, she was lost in July 1986 when she was overpowered by mountainous seas surging through the harbour entrance and capsized. Eric Heath

We speak to his colleague and friend Kynan Gentry, who completed this richly illustrated account of the hazards and heroism that distinguish our maritime history.

Gavin McLean and Kynan Gentry in 2009. Photo: Kynan Gentry

7:30 At The Movies

On At The Movies, Simon Morris looks back on 2019 - a year that marked the end of some big franchises, that featured more women-led and women-driven films than ever, and saw strong showings from Kiwi film-makers - Jojo Rabbit, Daffodils, Bellbird and many more.

8:10 The Hump

The Hump is our Wednesday night Quiz Night where we take a dive into the archives of Nga Taonga Sound and Vision for some audio gems and we want to see if you can identify them.

Tonight's prize is Gavin McLean's Book - Shipwrecked.

8:15 Dateline Pacific

Photo: RNZ

RNZ Pacific's daily current affairs programme covering the major Pacific stories of the week, with background and reaction from the people making the news.

8:30 Window on the World

Philip Ball tells the story of Madame Lavoisier; translator of oxygen.

Photo: Jacques-Louis David [Public domain]

9:07 Book Reading - When We Wake by Karen Healey

The final episode of 'When We Wake'.

Teagan and her friend Abdi have escaped the clutches on 'The Inheritors of the Earth'.

They are on a boat heading back to the mainland to let the masses know the truth about what is planned by the secretive leaders of the planet . .

The truth about 'The Arc Project', the truth about the state of the oceans, and the truth about 'Project New Beginning'.

9:30 War Reporting - Are We Doing it Wrong?

Photo: Bette Dam

Bette Dam is an investigative journalist who having worked on and in Afghanistan as a war reporter, questions whether western journalism only helps to promote war.

10:17 Lately

Photo: RNZ

Lately with Karyn Hay is a late night radio show on RNZ National, with an eye on live events, an ear for music, a great sense of humour and a genuine interest in people and their stories.

11:07 Inside Out

On Inside out, Nick Tipping checks out some of the great jazz musicians based in Dunedin.

Photo: Unsplash / Kerensa Pickett

Navigation for Nights

Nights for Wednesday 18 December 2019

War Reporting - Are We Doing it Wrong?

Shipwrecked