Nights for Friday 7 March 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 This Weekend: Pasifika Festival

Every Friday, we bring you some of the most interesting events and happening in Aotearoa this weekend.

This week we're in Tāmaki Makaurau where one of the largest and most vibrant celebrations of Pacific Island cultures, returns this weekend.

Pasifika Festival is being held at Western Springs where festival-goers can expect to experience the richness of Pacific culture, language, and identity through over 1,000 performers from 11 Pacific countries.

Among the entertainers will be Sapphire Matafai who will be performing on the Samoa Village Stage. She joins Emile Donovan.

8:35 Tenuous Connections

It's Friday night, so Nights is putting on a playlist of music with a loose theme based off an even looser starting point.

Tonight, songs about rain.

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.

9:20 Focus on Politics

Tonight, Lillian Hanly takes a look at the state of access to emergency housing, after the Government tightened its criteria last August. 

9:35 Short-Cuts with Dan Slevin

Nights' resident screen critic is back with a selection of weekend viewing suggestions.

Tonight: 

The Last Journey (Hammar/Wikingsson, 2024). The most successful Swedish documentary of all time (and the Swedish entry for the Best International Feature Academy Award), well-known Swedish tv comedians Filip Hammar and Fredrik Wikingsson take Hammar’s elderly father on a road trip to the south of France in order to rekindle his lost love for life. (In Cinemas)

The Gorge (Derrickson, 2025). A sci-fi-horror-thriller-romance about two crack snipers (Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy), assigned to spend a year protecting opposite sides of a mysterious – misty – canyon and prevent whatever is at the bottom from getting out. In the process, they fall in love. (Streaming - Apple TV+)

Good Night and Good Luck (Clooney, 2005). TV journalist Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn) takes on Senator Joseph McCarthy at the height of the ‘red scare’ in American politics. (Free Streaming - Māori+)

 

10:17 Warriors' inaugural captain reflects on team's thirty year anniversary

On March 10, 1995, the New Zealand Warriors became New Zealand's first fully professional rugby league team when they competed in their first match at Mount Smart Stadium.

Dean Bell was the Warriors' inaugural captain for that Winfield Cup encounter with the Brisbane Broncos and led the team out that day. 

Emile Donovan spoke to him about his memories from the day when New Zealand sport changed forever - and his hopes for the Warriors this season and beyond.  

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, to mark International Women's Day, it's all women line up. He features Australian cricketer and musician, Annie-Rose Maloney, Norwegian singer-songwriter, record producer, and novelist. Jenny Hval and Tasmanian singer-songwriter Cathy Diver.

 

 

11:07 Artist to Artist

Nick Bollinger takes a listen to some of the songs that songwriters have written about other songwriters and uncovers the stories behind them.