Nights for Friday 15 August 2025
8:10 Auckland hosts global darts superstars
Todd Zaner crosses to RNZ sports reporter Jamie Wall on the ground at the New Zealand Darts Masters in Auckland.
Haupai Puha with Luke Littler at the KenoGO Australian Darts Masters. Photo: supplied
8:20 RNZAF marks 80 years
Today marks eighty years since VJ Day - Victory over Japan Day - when Japan surrendered and World War Two ended.
As well as the end of World War Two the, the date also marks the formation of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Association which supported more than 40,000 veterans as they adjusted back to civilian life.
Ian Mower is a retired Air Commodore and the president of the RNZAF. He joins Todd Zaner to reflect.
Photo: Supplied
8:30 NZ's furious filmmaking competition kicks off
Over 500 teams across the country will sweat, stress and eschew sleep this weekend in pursuit of making a short film in just 48 hours.
The Vista Foundation 48Hours film festival is New Zealand's largest guerrilla filmmaking competition, running annually for 22 years. Teams of aspiring filmmakers, including school groups, families as well as professionals, are given a genre and a set of elements they must include in their final product. The rest is up to them.
Todd Zaner dials up competitor Daniel Lynch in Wellington who, with his veteran team Cinetrance, is embarking on another weekend of intense filmmaking.
Check out Cinetrance's 2024 film trailer:
8:40 Short-Cuts with Dan Slevin
Nights' resident screen critic joins Todd Zaner to review Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (2025), and Final Score (2018) streaming on Prime Video and the 1970s sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati.
9:05 Nights Quiz
Do you know your stuff? Come on the air and be grilled by Todd Zaner 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 Out Lately with Finn Johansson
He's back, and no doubt ready to inform, educate and entertain us with an array of eclectic music.
Featuring:
- Tirtha Yatra by Tyler Childers
- Saint Mikhael and the Dragon by Aridni Orca
- Petty Gods by Ayodele Nzinga
Photo: Finn Johansson
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.
10:17 The Detail
It's gone from a boozy pub game to a mega millions sport - darts' world tour is on in Auckland this weekend. Sharon Brettkelly reports.
10:45 Focus on Politics
Anneke Smith hones in on what the opposition is promising as political polls heat up.
11:07 RNZ Music: WOMAD 2024
WOMAD 2024 features live recordings from a selection of International and local musicians captured by the RNZ Music team at WOMAD Taranaki.
Today's programme features Irish singer songwriter and storyteller Lisa O'Neil offering an intimate and heartfelt performance on the Dell Stage in Ngamotu, New Plymouth.
