Nights for Thursday 20 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 Debate continues over the use of 'Aotearoa' in Parliament

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has indicated he wants to change Parliament's standing orders to prevent MPs from calling the country 'Aotearoa' in the House.

Green MP, Ricardo Menendez March, asked a question to a Minister, and in that question, referred to 'Aotearoa', not New Zealand.

Public law professor, and parliament watcher, Andrew Geddis joins Emile Donovan to explain the issues around Parliament's standing orders.

8:45 The Reading

Fair weather or foul, your dog needs to be walked. The sharing of this particular "burden" seems to create a bond between dog owners as you will hear in the reading today.

Tonight, part four of How to Walk a Dog written and read by Mike White.
 

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.

9:25 Colourful questions

Tonight, we learn all about colours.

Who names colours, are there colours left to name?

Nick Nightingale, the managing director of Resene paints joins Emile Donovan to answer these questions and more.

9:35 Is it ethical for governments to punish or incentivise your behaviour to make you "healthier"?

Whether it's a sugar tax, not being able to smoke cigarettes without a sign that reminds you how bad they are for you, or zoning the sale of alcohol...

Everywhere we turn people are trying to do 'right' by our health. But what if it's at odds with what we want? 

Professor Martin Wilkinson is the author of the book, The Ethics of Public Health Paternalism, published by Oxford University Press.

10:17 What should we make of the Chinese naval ships off the Australian coast?

New Zealand is aware of the Chinese naval task group operating off Australia and is monitoring it.

According to the Australian Defence Department, the Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang, the Renhai-class Cruiser named Zunyi and the Fuchi-class replenishment vessel Weishanhu have continued sailing down the coast after being spotted to the north east of the country last week, the ABC reported.

The ships are understood to be sailing east of Sydney. British newspaper the Financial Times is reporting that the ships are about 150 nautical miles from the coast.

Former Defence Minister, Wayne Mapp joins Emile Donovan to discuss the situation.

10:30 Researchers delve into the meaning of a 'vibe'

Journalist and cultural critic Kyle Chayka described it as "a placeholder for an unplaceable feeling or impression, an atmosphere that you couldn't or didn't want to put into words".

Now researchers are taking a closer look at vibes, and seeing what insights they might provide about our lives and wider society.

Ash Watson is a senior lecturer at the University of New South Wales Sydney, and she joins Emile Donovan.

 

10.45pm Fish-folk, merpeople, clams, and nautical navigators out in force for mermaid parade.

If you are on the waterfront of Tāmaki Makaurau this weekend - you may spot an electic bunch of fish-folk, merpeople, clams, and nautical navigators.

That's because the city's Mermaid Parade is being held on Sunday,

The all-ages event invites ocean-lovers to don their best ocean-inspired looks and take part in the parade

Jamie Newman is one of the chief merpeople organising the event and he joins Emile Donovan.

11:07 The Mixtape

Last week Aotearoa lost a Māori music champion, singer, composer and performer Toni Huata passed away.

Toni Huata was the Director of Maori Music at SOUNZ centre for New zealand music.

A producer, performer, actor and singer. She performed all around the world from London, to Spain, Holland and Hawaii.

Her voice stretched from Opera to Haka and features in Sir Peter Jackson's King Kong and in the FanFare music by Gareth Farr, which was used for all 48 Rugby World Cup 2011 games as the teams entered the fields to play. 

She spoke to Maggie Tweedie back in 2023 about the songs that influenced her.