Nights for Thursday 7 August 2025

8:10 Is New Zealand's relationship with Australia better than ever? 

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to visit Queenstown this weekend to meet with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon who says he believes the relationship is the best it's ever been.

Director of the centre for strategic studies at Victoria University of Wellington David Capie unpacks the story with Emile Donovan. 

8:30 Loosening the jar - who's the real hero? 

When we fail to open a jar, and we pass it to our spouse who opens it without breaking a sweat, have we helped to loosen it or not? Richard Easther, professor of physics at the University of Auckland, joins Nights to provide the answer to this not-so-serious question. 

8:40 Looking back at the wellbeing era

Political scientist Natalia Albert joins Emile Donovan to revisit what New Zealand's 'wellbeing era' of governance got right, and got wrong.

8:55 Vintage rugby jersey pops up in high-end London fashion label

A shirt strikingly similar to the one worn by Canterbury in the 2001 NPC championship is now being sold by London-based Palace Skateboards, a brand beloved by celebrities like Justin Bieber, Seth Rogen and Kylie Jenner.

Vintage football shirts have been in vogue for a while now - but is it finally rugby's time?

Duncan Wood owner of vintage sporting apparel shop Boomfa Vintage joins Emile Donovan to explain.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Duncan Wood (@boomfa_vintage)

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 Why do we follow sports teams? 

Is dedicating yourself to one team, above all others, often against the world, good for our brains?

Professor Aaron Smith from the University of Canberra and Loughborough University is the author of The Psychology of Sports Fans and Football on The Brain: Why Minds Love Sport, which looks at the cognitive science of sports fandom and faith.

He speaks to 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

It may seem as if no one cares about the level of government ruling over potholes and parks, but the number of candidates for his year's elections are up. Amanda Gillies reports.

10:45 The Reading: The Play of Light'

We continue our reading of Fiona Farrell's story, The Play of Light, read by Janet Fisher.

11:07 The Mixtape

Tony Stamp is joined by broadcaster Mike McRoberts, picking some favourite songs on The Mixtape.

The host of RNZ100: A Century of Stories joins us to share six favourite songs, and reflect on 40 years of broadcasting, from leading RNZ's sports department aged 24, to reporting from warzones and hosting the 6pm news at Newshub.