Nights for Monday 17 February 2025

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 Free speech union labels Destiny Church protest 'thug's veto'

The actions of Destiny Church members who 'stormed' a children's drag king story time event held at an Auckland library have been widely condemned including by the Prime Minister and the Auckland Mayor. 

Thirty attendees ended up barricaded inside as the protesters pushed their way inside and police are investigating allegations of assault.

Education partnerships manager at the Free Speech Union New Zealand, Nick Hanne joins Emile Donnovan to explain why the union is believes the protest went against the ideals of free speech.

8:45 The Reading

Written with wit, wisdom and heartbreaking poignancy, How to Walk a Dog is a story anyone who has ever owned or loved a dog will relate to.

Tonight, we have part one, written and read by award winning journalist Mike White. 

9:05 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.

9:25 Whakataukī of the Week with Tuakoi Ohia

Every Monday, here on Nights, to set the tone for the week, we have a guest on to share a whakatauki - a Maori proverb - that's meaningful to them.

Tonight, Tuakoi Ohia (of Ngāti Hine, Ngaiterangi, Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngāti Ranginui, Te Āti Awa, Te Arawa, and Tainui) is a writer, actor, performer and musician. 

She's also the voice of Princess Fiona in the upcoming Māori-language version of Shrek.

9:35 The science of hair restoration

Dr Garsing Wong runs Sapphire Appearance Medicine Clinic in Auckland and he's a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland.

He joins Emile Donovan to explain how hair transplants work, and the changing social attitudes to them.

10:17 What you need to know about the Daman Kumar deportation case

The eighteen-year-old at the centre of a deportation action will have his case reconsidered by the minister.

Daman Kumar was born in New Zealand, and has never stepped foot in India, but is at risk of being deported there because he was born just months after our citizenship laws changed and is technically an overstayer with no legal right to be here.

Mike McMellon is an immigration lawyer based in Nelson and joins Emile Donovan to explain the case.

10:30 Sports chat with Jamie Wall

Sports correspondent Jamie Wall joins Emile Donovan to discuss the big stories in sport.

10:45 BBC World Lookahead with Pete Ross

We join Pete Ross from the BBC to take a look at some of the events making headlines internationally 

Tonight, European leaders are meeting in Paris for an emergency summit on the war in Ukraine, Germany is heading to the polls on Sunday. and the continuing political crisis in South Korea following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

11:07 Nashville Babylon

Every week on Nashville Babylon Mark Rogers presents the very best in country, soul and rock 'n' roll.

On this week's show there's classic soul from Candi Staton and Eddie Hinton, gospel courtesy of the Soul Stirrers, blues from Memphis Minnie plus a reggae smash from Culture.