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Nights for Friday 5 April 2024

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 Tenuous Connections: The Moon

Tonight, Mark Leishman is spinning tracks with a tenuous connection to the moon, as those in North America gear up to witness a total solar eclipse next week.

9:07 Nights Quiz

Do you know your stuff? Come on the air and be grilled by Mark Leishman 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 This Weekend: Bee-themed cuisine in Tauranga

Every Friday, we bring you some of the most interesting events and happenings coming up in Aotearoa this weekend - from the community fairs to the massive concerts.

This weekend, a chef in Tauranga is showcasing the remarkable world of bees.

Mead, bee-infused cocktails, and a two-course meal using bee products from a local apiary are all on the menu at restaurant Kitchen Takeover as part of the Flavours of Plenty Festival.

Ian Harrison is the head chef of Kitchen Takeover and joins Mark Leishman.

A white plate, featuring finely presented honey products. Two scoops of icecream, with blobs of honey, and shards of honeycomb.

The Mead and a Feed dining experience is being offered on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 April as part of the Flavours of Plenty festival. Photo: Kitchen Takeover

9:20 Focus on Politics

In this week's Focus on Politics, RNZ Political Reporter Giles Dexter looks at the impending return of Better Public Services targets, one of the points in the government's new action plan.

David Seymour, Christopher Luxon and other coalition MPs speak to media at Field Days in Feilding on 14 March 2024.

David Seymour, Christopher Luxon and other coalition MPs speak to media at Field Days in Feilding on 14 March 2024. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

9:35 Short-Cuts with Dan Slevin

Nights' resident film critic Dan Slevin joins Mark Leishman with new picks for the weekend, including Monkey Man (2024) in cinemas now, and eight-part sci-fi series Tales from the Loop (2020) streaming on Prime Video.

10:17 Pacific leaders call for whales to receive legal personhood

Māori and Pacific leaders, including the Māori king, signed He Whakaputanga Moana in Rarotonga earlier this week.

They say whales are a canary in the coalmine for the health of our oceans, and the world needs to act urgently to protect these taonga by giving them legal personhood - a move seen before in New Zealand in the protection of Te Urewera and the Whanganui River.

Mere Takoko is the vice president of Conservation International Aotearoa and she joins Mark Leishman to explain the campaign.

A southern right whale tail slapping in Port Ross, Auckland islands.

A southern right whale tail slapping in Port Ross, Auckland islands. Photo: University of Auckland southern right whale research team 2009

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, songs from American singer-songwriter Zsela, a new Afrofuturist album from Moor Mother, and Estonian experimental musician Lolina.

11:07 Concert: WOMAD Encore

WOMAD Encore is a weekly programme highlighting live recordings from a selection of International and local musicians captured by the RNZ Music team at WOMAD Taranaki.

This week's encore concert features the extraordinary Gospel group The Blind Boys of Alabama performing live on the Bowl Stage in New Plymouth.