Nights for Monday 12 May 2025

SAVE THE DATE: Nights with Emile Donovan LIVE at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium

On Thursday May 22, Nights is broadcasting live from Kelly Tarlton's in Auckland, and we'd love for our Nights listeners to come join us.

For more information and to register your interest, click here.

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 Should you be free to leave nasty reviews online?

A Palmerston North hydroponics retailer is taking social media site Reddit to court over anonymous, inflammatory posts made about their business.

The business owner says the reviews threaten their family and have impacted their business, and wants the online giant to be forced to unmask the identity of the user.

Former NetSafe CEO Martin Cocker weighs in on whether that's possible - and what our rights to anonymity online are.

8:45 The Reading

Part five of 'Someone's Wife', written and read by Linda Burgess.

9:05 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 Whakataukī of the Week with Emma Hislop

Award-winning author Emma Hislop (Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha, Kāi Tahu) joins Emile Donovan to share a whakataukī close to her heart.

9:35 Synaesthesia: Tasting numbers, hearing colours

Professor Anina Rich from Macquarie University in Sydney joins Emile Donovan to take a scientific journey through synesthesia: a phenomenon where ordinary interactions with sounds and symbols can trigger unexpected sensory reactions.

Do you experience synaesthesia? Email us about your experiences: nights@rnz.co.nz

10:17 The price of an airfare, explained

With Air New Zealand prices soaring, aviation commentator Irene King joins Emile Donovan to explain all the different components that make-up the price of a flight: from dynamic inputs like demand to core costs like fuel and airport fees.

10:30 Sports with Richard Irvine

Sports writer Richard Irvine joins Emile Donovan to debrief the weekend in sport.

10:45 BBC World Lookahead with Jonathan Frewin

BBC World journalist Jonathan Frewin joins Emile Donovan to explain the big events making headlines internationally, including Donald Trump's first major foreign trip of his term to Saudi Arabia, emerging peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, Romania's presidential election, and the Paris court trial of actor Gerard Depardieu.

11:07 Nashville Babylon

Every week on Nashville Babylon Mark Rogers presents the very best in country, soul and rock 'n' roll. 

On this week's show, there's soul from Etta James and Otis Redding, new music from the Altons and Jason Isbell, reggae courtesy of Althea & Donna, plus classic cuts from John Prine and Guy Clark.