Nights

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 the MetService

Stay up to date by following our live blog

8:45 The Reading: Harbouring

The final part 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.

9:25 Short-Cuts with Dan Slevin

Dan's back just in time to share his movie picks for the long Easter weekend.

9:40 The Reread with Paula Morris

The Reread: where we once a month invite someone to reread a book they've only read once, long ago. And then, once they've finished it, they come on here and reflect on the experience of re-reading it - because everybody reads a book differently, and how you read and interpret a book can change according to who you are at the time.

For our Reread this month, we're talking to award-winning novelist, short story writer, essayist and editor Paula Morris, who has reread Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown.

10:17 Update on Cyclone Tam with Far North mayor Moko Tepania

We get the latest on the impact of ex-cyclone Tam as it batters the upper North Island.

Emile speaks to Far North District Mayor Moko Tepania.

10:25 The evacuation of our libraries and museums in WWII

Tomorrow, April 18, is World Heritage Day. Over eighty years ago, the largest ever evacuation of New Zealand's cultural treasures was undertaken during World War II.

Tens of thousands of priceless artworks, sacred Māori artefacts, and irreplaceable documents were ushered out of our cities' biggest museums and institutions, and into safe houses in the regions, over fears the South Pacific could become the next target of enemy attacks.

Helen McCracken has worked in cultural heritage in New Zealand for over 30 years, the past 10 of which were spent with the Ministry of Culture and Heritage. She is also studying for a PhD in disaster research, where she will examine the planning for cultural heritage protection in emergencies.

She speaks with Todd Zaner to recall this incredible chapter of our history.

10:40 Have we found life on another planet?

Have scientists just found life on another planet? Astronomers may have uncovered the strongest evidence yet that we're not alone in the universe.

A team from the University of Cambridge says they've detected molecules in the atmosphere of a distant exoplanet that, here on Earth, are only produced by living organisms like marine algae.

They're calling it a revolutionary moment. But not everyone's convinced. Other scientists are urging caution, saying we need more proof before we can declare this as the first real sign of alien life.

So we thought we'd chat to University of Auckland head of the department of physics Professor Jan Eldridge about the discovery and if it is actually the first sign we have that we are not alone in the universe.

11:07 The Mixtape 

Duncan Sarkies is a novelist, playwright and screenwriter. He's written for television's Flight of the Conchords, wrote local feature films Scarfies and Two Little Boys and recently published his third novel, Star Gazers. 

He's also a dedicated music fan. In The Mixtape he talks to Nick Bollinger about the part music plays in his life and work, and shares a few of his favourite songs.