Nights for Wednesday 16 April 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 The latest on Cyclone Tam

For the latest update on the current weather watches and warnings, as well a look ahead to tomorrow and beyond, we speak to MetService meteorologist John Law.

Stay up to date by following our live blog.

8:45 The Reading: Harbouring

Part fifteen of Harbouring by Jenny Pattrick read by Alex Greig and Ni Dekkers-Reihana.

A historical novel set in Wellington in 1839. Huw, a Welsh immigrant and procurer of Maori land, working for Colonel Wakefield; his wife, Martha, travelling by boat to meet her husband; and a woman, Hineroa, who has become a slave to Te Rauparaha after losing her tribe in battle.

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.

9:35 Midweek Mediawatch

Colin Peacock is in the studio and talking to Emile Donovan about what's happening in the media world. Tonight Colin is taking a look at the documentary which follows the murder trial of Phillip Polkinghorne, the AUT's annual Trust in Media report and the lobbying register published by the newly formed Integrity Institute.

10:17 Far North mayor Moko Tepania

We get the latest on the impact of Cyclone Tam as it batters the upper North Island with Far North District Mayor Moko Tepania.

10:25 Fears a proposed law change could affect NZ's biggest class action

The government is looking to amend the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act — a move that could interfere with legal action being taken against ASB and ANZ by around 170,000 customers.

Nikki Chamberlain, a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland Law School, warns the proposed changes could have serious consequences — not just for consumers and litigation funders, but for the health of New Zealand’s democracy.

She speaks with Emile Donovan.

10:40 Incredibly popular Gallipoli exhibition to continue on until 2032

The exhibition, 'Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War', in Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand, has had its life extended to 2032.

In the past decade, the exhibition has recorded over 4.8 million visits -- nearly the population of New Zealand, though many visitors have come from overseas, too.

The exhibition's 10-year anniversary is this Friday, April 18.

Te Papa Curator Stephanie Gibson has shepherded the exhibition since its inception and she chats to Emile Donovan about that experience.

10:50 World's first verified footage of the colossal squid released

It's a baby!

Up until now the colossal squid have proved impossible to capture in their natural habitat, in the crushing dark of 600 metres below the surface of the sea.

So it's been a very exciting week for Dr Kat Bolstad, a squid expert and associate professor at Auckland University of Technology, who was called on to verify the spotting.

She speaks to Emile Donovan about the significance of this footage.

11:07 Pocket Edition

This week on Pocket Edition, Maggie Tweedie introduces us to new music from Neive Strang, Marlon Williams and The Bats.