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Nights for Monday 28 July 2025

8:10 Material change for the construction industry

With insolvency and job losses for construction businesses soaring, the government has announced it will make it easier for firms to purchase and use international materials for builds here in New Zealand.

Professor John Tookey from AUT joins Emile Donovan to look at whether this move will bring down the high cost of construction.

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Photo: 123RF

8:20 Sports with Jamie Wall

RNZ sports whiz Jamie Wall joins Emile Donovan to debrief the week that was in sport.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad of the Warriors dejected after the loss, NZ Warriors v Gold Coast Titans.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad of the Warriors dejected after the loss, NZ Warriors v Gold Coast Titans. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

8:40 Fantasy claims 25 percent of NZ's top books list

The newly-released Whitcoulls Top 100 list, celebrating New Zealanders' favourite books, has the fantasy genre ruling on high - including, in top position, Rebecca Yarros' Empyrean series. 

While Lord of the Rings features in the list, many of our favourite fantasy books could be better termed 'romantasy': fantasy books with romantic or erotic themes.

Ruby Wallace, the owner of Auckland romance bookstore Enamoured Books, joins Emile Donovan to explain the craze.

The interior of Enamoured Books in Remuera. Two plush green couches face each other in the shop floor, while the walls are lined with pink shelves full of brightly-coloured book spines.

Photo: Enamoured Books

8:45 BBC World Service lookahead with Rob Hugh Jones

BBC World Service reporter Rob Hugh-Jones joins Emile Donovan to take a look at some of the events making international headlines, including reports of starvation in Gaza, Afghan populations leaving Iran, and a border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand.

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 Josh Drummond: A cynic's guide to self-help books

In a quest to optimise his own life, writer Josh Drummond has spent years consuming and reviewing self-help books for his Substack The Cynic's Guide to Self-Improvement.

He joins Emile Donovan in RNZ's Auckland studio.

Man with tattoos reading and drinking coffee

Photo: Unsplash

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: The hidden epidemic in Kiwi homes that costs the country billions

More funding's been announced to train up domestic violence support workers, but turning our horrific figures around is expected to take generations. Amanda Gillies reports.

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10:45 The Reading

Part one of 'The Trouble Begins at Eight'.

Mark Twain braved sinking ships, angry dogs and rabid reviewers to bring his lucrative lecture tour to New Zealand. But why did the wealthy writer of Huckleberry Finn have to travel so far from home to make a buck? 

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 Nashville Babylon there's new music from James McMurtry, blues and soul courtesy of Muddy Waters and Varetta Dillard, country from Glen Campbell plus a garage rock classic from the Sonics.