Nights for Wednesday 9 July 2025

8:10 40th anniversary of the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior

Tomorrow marks 40 years since the bombing and sinking of the Rainbow Warrior - a moment that changed the course of New Zealand's history and reshaped how we saw ourselves on the world stage.

Two French agents planted two explosives on the ship, then just before midnight, explosions ripped through the hull killing photographer, Fernando Pereira and sinking the 47m ex-fishing trawler.

The attack sparked outrage across the country and the world, straining diplomatic ties between New Zealand and France and cementing our anti-nuclear stance.

Few people are more closely linked to the ship than author and journalist David Robie, who spent eleven weeks on board during its final voyage through the Pacific. He joins Emile Donovan.

8:20 Albania is having a moment and why you should book a trip

Croatia is out. Albania is experiencing a tourism boom, with up to 15 million visitors expected to travel to the small Balkan nation.

To explain what's drawing so many travelers, Emile speaks to Lonely Planet's Oceania editor Jessica Lockhart.

8:30 Midweek Mediawatch

Colin Peacock joins Emile Donovan to debrief the week in media news.

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 Are claims of de-extincting the moa more hype than science?

You may have heard the news today that Colossal Biosciences - the company behind efforts to resurrect the extinct dire wolf -  with the backing of Sir Peter Jackson have their sights set on bringing back the moa.

Using advanced genetic engineering, the group - which includes Ngāi Tahu and Canterbury Museum - plans to extract DNA from preserved moa remains to recreate the towering, flightless bird.

But not everyone is convinced, with some scientists questioning whether this latest project is more hype than science.

Emile Donovan speaks to Associate Professor Nic Rawlence, Director of the University of Otago's Palaeogenetics Laboratory.

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: Erin Patterson faces life behind bars for murder by mushroom

Tonight on The Detail -  The Erin Patterson case has gripped international audiences, in Australia's 'biggest crime story since the Azaria Chamberlain case' of the 80s.

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10:45 The Reading

The final episode of The Tree by Robin McFarland read by Byron Coll. 

Barney has moved to the coast to start a new life away from alcohol. He is offered a job felling a huge old elm over Ernie's house. He knows nothing about the work entailed.

11:07 Sound Advice

In Sound Advice, Maggie Tweedie and Tony Stamp shine the light on the world of music supervision and those whose job it is to choose the music for your favourite films and TV shows.

This week, Maggie talks to Laura Bell, who has worked on many projects from Steve McQueen's 4-and-a-half-hour documentary Occupied City to Netflix's Stromboli, the Amazon Series Modern Love Amsterdam, and the Cannes-nominated drama series Childhood Dreams.