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Nights for Friday 1 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 Focus on Politics

Political reporter Katie Scotcher examines the proposed shutdown of Newshub, the ramifications for the wider media industry and the government's response.

Title: "Focus on Politics". National MP Melissa Lee in front of Newshub billboard.

Photo: RNZ

8:45 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.

9:20 This Weekend: Antique boats on show in Nelson

Every Friday, we bring you some of the most interesting events and happenings coming up in Aotearoa this weekend - from the community fairs to the massive concerts.

Nelson is in for two days of hydromatic relaxation for the 24th annual NZ Antique and Classic Boat Show.

The show has been held at the beautiful St Arnaud in the Nelson Lakes National Park since 1999, and you can see everything from classic racing boats, pedal-powered catamarans, and painstakingly restored clinkers.

Pete Rainey is the organiser of the event and he joins Emile Donovan.

A vintage tugboat with a red chimney. Three people sit in the boat as it glides along a glassy lake, with trees on the shore in the background.

Photo: Supplied

9:30 Short-Cuts with Dan Slevin

Nights' resident film critic Dan Slevin gives his thoughts on Denis Villeneuve's long-awaited epic Dune: Part Two (2024), Oscar-nominated comedy-drama American Fiction (2023), and animated fable Nimona (2023) which is free to stream on YouTube.

Timothée Chalamet in a scene from Dune Part Two

Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

10:17 Fancy a tipple? New Zealand's first locally-made absinthe 

Absinthe has a tough reputation.

Incredibly strong, vivid green, and distinctly retro.

Hastings Distillers is trying to bring the liquor back in a big way, and their bottle 'The Dita' may just be the first ever commercial absinthe made in New Zealand.

Co-founder Kate Galloway joins Nights.

Kate stands in a dimly lit studio by a table of distilling equipment, holding a small glass vial to the light. David sits at a table in the background.

Kate Galloway and partner David Ramonteu had a background in winemaking before a tour of Europe in 2015 drew their focus to spirits. Photo: Supplied

10:30 Out Lately with Finn Johansson

He's back, and no doubt ready to inform, educate and entertain us with an array of eclectic music.

Tonight, British producer and DJ Vegyn, a posthumous release from Nashville rock'n'roll duo Mama Zu, and a new track from Vietnamese-Canadian country outfit Nicolette & The Nobodies.

11:07 Concert

Trevor Reekie is back with a series showcasing a selection of performance highlights from WOMAD Taranaki 2023 featuring live recordings from international and local musicians captured by the RNZ Music team.

This week's concert features the desert blues of guitarist Mdou Moctar.