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 Nights Jukebox

Emile Donovan plays your requests - as long as you've got a compelling reason, or a good story to go with it.

Send in your requests to nights@rnz.co.nz or text 2101.

Featuring:

Can't Get Enough of You, Baby by ? & The Mysterians - requested by Tommy

Take the Long Way Home by Supertramp - requested by Kevin

September Gurls by Big Star - requested by David

Tigers Blood by Waxahatchee - requested by Nick

John (I'm Only Dancing) by David Bowie - requested by Craigie

8:45 The Reading: We'll Always Have Paris

We'll Always Have Paris is a short story from one of New Zealand's most well known and loved writers, Witi Ihimaera.

Published in a collection of Witi short stories called The Thrill of Falling, this story is read by James Kupa.   

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 Our Changing World's Claire Concannon

The host of RNZ podcast Our Changing World joins Emile Donovan to share about her upcoming trip to Antarctica, what the 'solar maximum' is, and the big pot of research funding called Horizon Europe. 

Claire Concannon smiling

Photo: RNZ / Jeff McEwan

9:30 Midweek Mediawatch

Colin Peacock joins Emile Donovan to debrief the week in media news, including US election coverage and TVNZ's pivot on the future of its website.

A sign pointing to a polling booth in Phoenix, Arizona

Photo: RNZ/Nick Monro

10:17 New Zealand losing its religion, census data shows

According to 2023 census data, over half of the New Zealand population report having no religious affiliation.

Christianity, the largest religious group, fell from 36.5% of the population in 2018 to 32.3% in 2023.

Victoria University of Wellington associate professor of religious studies Geoff Troughton joins Emile Donovan to discuss.

Pope Francis presides over a mass for the World Children Day, in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Sunday, 26 May, 2024.

Pope Francis presides over a mass for the World Children Day, in St Peter's Square at the Vatican. Photo: AP / Gregorio Borgia

10:30 The challenge of delivering rural dental care

Recently, the offer of free dental treatment in the Whanganui/Ruapehu region attracted hundreds of people - and highlighted how difficult it is for people living in rural or remote communities to access care.

Volunteer dentists in the iwi-led, hauora Māori initiative saw nearly 400 people, and a dentist at an Ohakune clinic treated 100 people, extracted 125 teeth and filled 40 teeth.

And, for the first time in eight years, Great Barrier Island will have a visiting dentist, which means people who can't afford to fly to Auckland will now have the chance to seek treatment.

President of the New Zealand Dental Association Amanda Johnston joins Emile Donovan to reflect on the challenges of delivering rural dental health.

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Photo: 123RF

10:45 Dunedin Monopoly launches

The local version of the popular board game features Dunedin landmarks, like Saint Clair Beach, Otago University, and even the University student haunt, Castle Street.

Charlotte Waalkens is the head of global licensing for Winning Moves, the company behind the game, and joins Emile Donovan.

The box and board for Dunedin Monopoly.

The Dunedin Monopoly board was developed after collaborating with locals on what landmarks, like Larnach Castle and Dunedin Railway Station, should get pride of place. Photo: Supplied

11:07 Pocket Edition

On this week's episode of Pocket Edition Maggie Tweedie shares new music from Allysha Joy, Mel Parson, Kaytanada and fazerdaze.