Navigation for Nights

Nights for Monday 23 June 2025

8:10 Helen Clark on US involvement in Israel-Iran conflict 

Former Prime Minster and Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme Helen Clark joins Emile Donovan to discuss the US military attack on Iranian nuclear sites.

Israeli security forces gather outside a building that was hit by an Iranian missile in Israel's central city of Holon on June 19, 2025. A hospital in southern Israel and two towns near Tel Aviv were struck after a barrage of Iranian missiles early on June 19, with rescuers reporting at least 47 people injured in the latest attacks. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP)

A hospital in southern Israel and two towns near Tel Aviv were struck after a barrage of Iranian missiles early on June 19, with rescuers reporting at least 47 people injured in the latest attacks. Photo: AFP / Jack Guez

8:20 Sports with Jamie Wall

Scott Robertson has named 33 players in the All Blacks squad today but a lot of the talk in the aftermath has been about the ones that he didn't. 

RNZ's sport journalist Jamie Wall joins RNZ Nights with his analysis of the squad, who missed out and what it all means.

Scott Robertson, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Du'Plessis Kirifi.

Scott Robertson, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Du'Plessis Kirifi. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

 

8:40 BBC World with Rob Hugh-Jones

BBC World journalist Rob Hugh-Jones joins Emile Donovan for a wrap of world news making international headlines.

Tonight, the latest on the big story of the moment, the US attacks on Iran's main nuclear sites, the upcoming NATO summit in The Netherlands, a woman takes on the top job for the first time at the International Olympic Committee, and Venice will this week play host to one of the most high-profile weddings of the year when Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez tie the knot.

President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance are pictured in The Situation Room on June 21. Mandatory Credit: The White House via CNN Newsource

President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance are pictured in The Situation Room on June 21. Photo: The White House via CNN Newsource

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 A riddle two thousand years in the making

The Old Silk Road was the branching superhighway connecting people, commerce and ideas in ancient Asia -- 

Stretching over six thousand kilometres long over land and sea, from Europe, to Africa, to every corner of the Asian continent

In our time, it's been mapped, excavated, named a World Heritage Site. But one fabled location on the Road has eluded scholars to this day.

Where is the famed midpoint, known to ancient geographers as The Stone Tower?

Riaz Dean is a researcher and author, and his book, The Stone Tower: Ptolemy, The Silk Road, and a Two-thousand-Year-Old Riddle' attempts to answer this question.

He's giving a talk this Wednesday with The Royal Society Te Aparangi and joins Emile Donovan.

Riaz Dean is the author of The Stone Tower: Ptolemy, The Silk Road, and a Two-thousand Year-Old Riddle'

Riaz Dean is the author of The Stone Tower: Ptolemy, The Silk Road, and a Two-thousand Year-Old Riddle' Photo: Riaz Dean

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

Tonight, on The Detail - Unaffordable housing, the high cost of living, and 'very intentional decisions' by the government see a spike in homelessness.

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A homeless man waits to cross the road on Auckland's Queen Street.

A homeless man waits to cross the road on Auckland's Queen Street. Photo: RNZ / Bailey Brannon

10:45 The Reading

We begin a three-part story of a young New Zealand woman journeys with her friend, a sick Australian swami, back to his family on a huge outback cattle station.

Joanne Simpson reads "Ring of Fire" by Susy Pointon.

11:07 Nashville Babylon

Mark Rogers presents the very best in country, soul and rock 'n' roll.

On this week's show there's soul from Sam and Dave, blues courtesy of Earl Hooker, a classic cut from Rickie Lee Jones, reggae from Junior Murvin plus a birthday tune for Kris Kristofferson.