Nights for Wednesday 6 August 2025

8:10 Biggest overhaul of road funding in half a century on its way

It's being described as the biggest change to how roading is funded in this country for fifty years.

The government intends to phase out fuel taxes and replace them with a uniform road user charge, or RUCs.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop made the announcement today -- saying petrol consumption is no longer an accurate measure of road usage, with the rise of fuel-efficient cars and e-vehicles.

Legislation is expected next year, with the new system where road users would pay their bill online, similar to a power bill in place by 2027.

Joining Emile Donovan to explain how it all works is economist Stuart Donovan a senior fellow at Motu Economic and Public Policy Research.

8:20 ‘Lost’ Frances Hodgkins painting sells for nearly ten times its purchase price

Frances Hodgkins painting has resurfaced, and its valuation comes as a shock to its owner - but perhaps not the art world.  

It was bought for around $80 NZD (£35 GBP) in 2019 from the Hertford County Council, which was auctioning off some of its collection. 

The painting was recently valued at over $112,000 NZD - which is around £50,000 GBP. 

The unsigned artwork was verified during an episode of the BBC television programme Fake or Fortune by our very own Mary Kisler.

She speaks to Emile Donovan.

8:30 Midweek Mediawatch

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

Tonight he's talking about NZ on Air funding reality TV, changes made to RNZ's Morning Report and Winston Peters takes aims at the media . . . again. 

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 Science and God; The Pope's Astronomer on why science and religion are not opposing forces

Faith and science are often seen as being in conflict, with little room for overlap; and, for most, pursuing one means leaving the other behind. 

Brother Guy Consolmagno is a Jesuit, a trained astronomer, meteorite expert and Director of the Vatican Observatory.

Though he is informally referred to as "the Pope's Astronomer." 

He believes both practices live side by side - though he admits it's not always a straightforward path.

Brother Guy is currently on a speaking tour of New Zealand and joins Emile Donovan to talk about faith, science and whether he would baptise aliens.

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 - There are signs that the previously unwavering MAGA base of Donald Trump is starting to turn on him as he becomes increasingly embroiled in the Epstein files.

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10:45 The Reading: 'The Play of Light'

In tonight's episode of  'The Play of Light' Tom's walk in the mountains turns into a steep learning curve of the nicest sort.

11:07 Artist To Artist

In Artist To Artist Nick Bollinger takes a listen to some of the songs that songwriters have written about other songwriters, and uncovers the stories behind them.