Nights for Wednesday 4 December 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 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.

8:45 The Reading: 'Footprints In The Sand'.

In our reading tonight Sarah Boddy reads the first part of her own story 'Footprints In The Sand'.

This is the story Beth, who is seriously heartbroken, and Pete, a paparazzi photographer who has no heart at all.

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 Agony Aunt

Nights' resident Agony Aunt Courtney Dawson is back for her monthly visit to answer listeners' problems.

Tonight do you stick to your morals when it comes to buying sustainable presents, and whether or not it's appropriate to say no to your parents at Christmas time?

9:30 Midweek Mediawatch

Emile Donovan speaks to Mediawatch's Hayden Donnell about Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's long-awaited appearance on Q&A with Jack Tame, Stuff saving Newshubs archive and whether RNZ is failing in its obligations to local literature.

10:17 What now for South Korea's embattled president?

It's been an incredibly dramatic 24 hours in the South Korean capital of Seoul after the president President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law.

Two hours later the National Assembly passed a motion calling for the repeal of martial law despite armed soldiers trying to prevent politicians from entering the South Korean parliament.

President Yoon has since lifted martial law but large demonstrations are taking place with many calling on him to step down.

Michael Breen has lived and worked in Korea for more than 30 years first as a journalist for news outlets such as The Guardian, The Times and The Washington Times. He is also the author of two books on Korea and a columnist for The Korea Times.

He speaks to Emile Donovan about what is likely to happen now.

10:30  Trademark clash: Katie Perry vs Katy Perry

A recent legal case between pop star Katy Perry (birth name Katheryn Hudson) and Australian fashion designer Katie Taylor (birth name Katie Perry) is shining a spotlight on the tricky terrain of trademarking names.

Katie sued Katy and three associated companies for trademark infringement in 2019 and a judgment released last month confirmed the pop star could rely on the “own name defence” under Australian trade mark law.

Emile Donovan speaks to Auckland University's associate professor Rob Batty about the case.

10:45 The sound of summer is about to arrive

They're the sound of a New Zealand summer.

And get used to it, because cicada season is emerging. You might have already heard them where you are, and if not... it's any day now.

To share a little about our loud insect friends, Nights' resident bug expert Morgane Merien speaks to Emile Donovan.

11:07 Pocket Edition

On this week's episode of Pocket Edition Maggie Tweedie shares new music from American trio Horse Girl and some unconventional Christmas tunes. We learn more about how music inspired Jane Austen and her many characters.