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Māori AI expert Dr Karaitiana Taiuru shares his favourite whakataukī

18 Mar 2024

Dr Karaitiana Taiuru tells RNZ what his favourite whakataukī is and how it relates to his work and whānau. Audio

Tuesday 19 March 2024

On today’s show

8:10 The House

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a List MP sitting and waiting on the cusp of your party’s vote result in a fluid post-election configuration? It can be touch and go.

Among the MPs elected to Parliament after October’s general election, there are a few list MP who first endured a period of waiting and uncertainty due to the vagaries of the MMP system.

Labour MP Dr Tracey McLellan sitting on Parliament's Health Select Committee

Labour MP Dr Tracey McLellan sitting on Parliament's Health Select Committee Photo: Phil Smith

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 Jukebox

Emile Donovan plays your requests - as long as you've got a compelling reason, or a good story with it.

Send in your picks to nights@rnz.co.nz or text 2101.

8:45 The Reading

Did you ever hear something on the radio that rocked your world, and after hearing it nothing seemed the same again?

Tonight, Michele Amas reading part two of a four-part story 'Cotton-Eyed Joe' written by Susy Pointon.

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.

9:15 Shower Thoughts: Who owns outer space?

Have you ever been standing in the shower, when suddenly, the noise in your brain clears and in its place appears the perfect thought?

That's a Shower Thought, and here on Nights we're aiming to answer those unshakable questions lurking in the back of your mind.

Tonight, space law expert Dr Maria Pozza helps us answer the question: Does anyone own outer space?

view of the Earth from space, blue planet and deep black space

Photo: 123rf

9:30 Politics by Night with Laura Walters

Newsroom political editor joins Emile Donovan to untangle the big problems of the day in politics, including the government's instructions to councils to not follow the law over Significant Natural Areas, and deputy prime minister Winston Peters' comparisons of co-governance to Nazi Germany.

ACT Party member and ex-Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard

Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

9:45 Māoriland Film Festival brings 168 films over five days to Ōtaki

The Māoriland Film Festival is back for its 11th year.

Each year the indigenous world comes together in Ōtaki on New Zealand's Kāpiti Coast to celebrate indigenous storytelling on screen.

Starting tomorrow, and running over five days, the festival is showing 168 films with over 130 indigenous nations represented.

Madeleine Hakaraia de Young is the festival's director and she joins Nights from Ōtaki.

Still from the 2023 Navajo feature film Frybread Face and Me

Still from the 2023 Navajo feature film Frybread Face and Me. Photo: Māoriland Film Festival

10:17 Inventor of karaoke dies, aged 100

In January, Shigeichi Negishi died of natural causes at 100-years-old. 

Negishi is regarded as the inventor of the karaoke machine.

Despite karaoke's popularity, his death went relatively unnoticed.

Emile Donovan is joined by author and writer Matt Alt, who interviewed Negishi for his book Pure Invention: How Japan Made the Modern World, to reflect on the pioneer's legacy.

Karaoke night at Auckland venue The Lucha Lounge.

Karaoke night at Auckland venue The Lucha Lounge. Photo: Photo by Jenna Todd

10:30 AI giant reveals 'world's most powerful chip'

A product announcement from one of the world's leading artificial intelligence companies could mean big things for the future of work.

In Silicon Valley on Monday (EST) the CEO of Nvidia unveiled a new chip 'Blackwell' for powering generative AI models that promises to be faster, higher powered, and more energy efficient to run.

James Thomson is a senior columnist for Chanticleer in the Australian Financial Review and he joins Emile Donovan to explain the significance of the Blackwell.

This photograph taken in Paris on February 23, 2024 shows a US multinational Nvidia's graphic processing unit (GPU). Global equities pushed higher on February 23 as investors digested a record-breaking week powered by US technology titan Nvidia's blockbuster results and the artificial intelligence boom.

Nvidia's graphic processing unit (GPU). Photo: AFP / Joel Saget

10:45 Futuro house granted heritage protection

A unquiely-shaped home on the outskirts of Christchurch which has more than a passing resemblance to a classic UFO spaceship has been awarded heritage protection. 

The Futuro home in Ohoka has been recognised by Heritage New Zealand as a category one historic place.

Nick McQuoid is the homeowner and joins Nights.

Nick McQuoid's quirky futuro home is being considered for heritage status

Nick McQuoid's quirky futuro home is being considered for heritage status Photo: supplied

11:07 Worlds of Music

Trevor Reekie hosts a weekly music programme celebrating an eclectic mix of 'world' music, fusion and folk roots.

Tonight, tracks from Khruangbin, Coşkun Karademir, and Otis Redding.