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Nights for Tuesday 3 June 2025

8:10 Worst case scenario: Auckland and Wellington

Researchers have outlined what some of the worst case scenario events for our biggest cities could look like.

For Wellington, the mega-quake is a well-known if ill-prepared-for risk - but for Auckland, an ex-tropical cyclone with heavy rainfall is becoming the most likely route to devastation as the climate changes.

Dr Rob Bell, the managing director of adaptation consultancy Bell Adapt, co-authored the paper and joins Emile Donovan.

Extreme events, such as Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023, are increasing in frequency. Photo:

8:20 Sport with Jamie Wall

RNZ sport reporter Jamie Wall joins Emile Donovan to debrief the week in sport.

Image of two people doing Run It Straight

Photo: runitstraight24

8:40 Shower Thoughts: How do you create a font?

Every Tuesday, we find an expert to answer a curious question about the world and how it works.

Tonight: fonts. We stare at them everyday. They are the mechanism through which we talk to loved ones, find our way around a strange place, and keep up with the news. But we may never give them a second thought.

Kris Sowersby is the founder of Klim Type Foundry in Wellington. Klim have designed fonts for The Financial Times, Paypal and National Geographic; and closer to home they're writ large for BNZ, TradeMe, and Kate Evans' definitive book about feijoas, Feijoa (which fittingly enough featured the Klim font, 'Feijoa').

Kris Sowersby joins Emile Donovan.

A composite image showing founder Kris Sowersby looking serious; an art book cover with font done by Klim; an example of Klim's website trying out a font, saying 'Kafka fishing flick'; and an embossed green door with Klim font.

Klim Type Foundry have designed typefaces for The Financial Times, Paypal, National Geographic, Bank of New Zealand, and TradeMe. Photo: Klim Type Foundry

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 What makes a political memoir a page-turner?

Dame Jacinda Ardern's memoir A Different Kind of Power was released into the public today, charting her early life and political career through to its abrupt end in 2023. Reviews have described it variously as inspiring and insipid - intimate, but without revealing too much.

It's the latest in a string of political memoirs from New Zealand politicians: Steven Joyce, Judith Collins, Simon Bridges and Golriz Ghahraman have all put out books. 

Are they any good? Journalist and former National Party chief press secretary Janet Wilson joins Emile Donovan to weigh in.

Book cover image of A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern

Photo: Penguin Random House

9:35 Mini Midweek Mediawatch: TradeMe acquires 50 percent of Stuff Digital

Colin Peacock pops in on a Tuesday to discuss the long-rumoured merger cooked up between TradeMe and Stuff.

9:45 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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10:17 The Detail: Diamonds and their pearls moment

There are pros and cons ethically with mined and lab diamonds, but one certainly gives you more sparkle for your dollar. Alexia Russell reports.

10:45 The Reading

The first of a three part tale from Tenderness, a collection of stories by Sarah Quigley.

Anna Jullienne with part one of 'In the Palace Gardens'.

11:07 Worlds of Music

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