Nights for Wednesday 16 July 2025

8:10 Closing the book on open-plan classrooms

Education Minister Erica Stanford announced today that the government will step back from building new, open-plan fit-outs.

These dynamic spaces were thought to be the new cool thing to keep students engaged, a move away from a stuffy, British schooling model.

But this announcement comes after years of schools disassembling their 'state-of-the-art' classrooms, putting the walls back up for some peace, quiet and control.

Doctor Sarah Aiono is the CEO and Director of pedagogy consultancy Longworth Education and joins Emile Donovan to discuss the change.

8:20 The House 

Tonight on our Parliament show - The House - Louis Collins heads along to a select committee estimates hearing with the Speaker. 

8:30 Midweek Mediawatch

Hayden Donnell joins Emile Donovan to debrief the week in media news.

Tonight, Wellington mayoral candidate Ray Chung's regrettable email to his council colleagues about the sitting mayor, Tory Whanau, a dubious story run by Stuff last week and a new development in the 'Frenchification of media'

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  Mental As Anyone: Jonathon Moran on addiction, mental health and identity 

For more than two decades, Australian entertainment journalist and broadcaster Jonathon Moran - better known as JMO - has been covering the lives of the rich and famous.

To the outside world he was outgoing and confident journalist who got to travel the world doing what he loved.

But behind the scenes he was battling addiction and mental health while coming to terms with his own history of sexual abuse and identity.

Now he's written a book about his life called Mental As Anyone, part memoir - part self-help based on his own struggles and experiences.

Jonathon Moran joins Emile Donovan.

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 - With an increase in drugs coming through Auckland Airport, border officials focus on trying to stop the imports before they reach our shores

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10:40 World shortage on matcha as demand soars

If you've visited a cafe over the past year or so, you will have no doubt seen the worldwide craze of matcha.

The Japanese green tea powder has been taking the world by storm, added to a range of cafe drinks as well as desserts.

Such is the demand, there is now a global shortage. 

So what is behind the surge in popularity, and will the shortage affect local matcha lovers?

Chaz Monaghan is co-founder of Muma Matcha in Queenstown and joins Emile Donovan.

10:50 The Reading

Tonight, episode 4 in John Bluck's series of short talks describing his attempts to learn the art of living rurally. 

John had a busy working life that took him to cities up and down New Zealand but then he moved to a small country village north of Auckland - something that required different skills and knowledge.

11:07 Pocket Edition

Martin Kwok is an Emmy award-winning sound editor, DJ and music obsessive based in Pōneke Wellington. 

Martin worked on Peter Jackson's Beatles documentary Get Back, as well as the soundtrack for the film Dune: Part Two. 

In March 2024, Martin joined Maggie Tweedie for the RNZ Mixtape, selecting seven tracks to soundtrack his life.