Nights for Tuesday 19 August 2025
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The history of stargazing
9:25 PM.Human beings have looked upwards since our necks allowed. Physics PhD candidate and planetarium presenter Laura Burn takes Emile Donovan on an astronomical journey. Read more Audio
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Shower Thoughts: How does race-walking work?
8:45 PM.Olympian, Commonwealth silver medalist and now president of Race Walking NZ Alana Barber-Blocki chats to Emile Donovan. Read more Audio
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Europe correspondent Christian Smith
8:30 PM.Journalist Christian Smith joins Emile Donovan to discuss an extraordinary Ukraine summit in Washington, anti-government riots in Serbia, and the return of football. Read more Audio
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You've got to know when to roll 'em...
8:10 PM.Will either party be tempted to roll the dice on a new leader before the election? Former MP and United Future Party leader Peter Dunne has seen plenty come and go - he joins Nights. Read more Audio
8:10 You've got to know when to roll 'em...
With just over a year until the next general election, the leaders of both major parties are struggling to connect with the public.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Labour leader Chris Hipkins have favourability ratings that barely crack 20 percent in most opinion polls.
So, will either party be tempted to roll the dice on a new leader before the election? And how would voters react?
Former MP and United Future Party leader Peter Dunne saw plenty of leaders rise and fall during his 33 years in Parliament. He speaks to Emile Donovan.
Chrises Hipkins and Luxon. Photo: Samuel Rillstone / RNZ
8:25 The House
Louis Collins looks at the bills that the house will be busy debating this week.
8:30 Europe correspondent Christian Smith
Journalist Christian Smith joins Emile Donovan to discuss an extraordinary Ukraine summit in Washington, anti-government riots in Serbia, and the return of football.
Photo: AFP / Andrew Caballero-Reynolds
8:45 Shower Thoughts: How does race-walking work?
Every Tuesday, we find an expert to answer curious questions about the world and how it works.
And tonight, we are looking at the underappreciated sport of race walking: the rules, the techniques, and the greats.
Olympian, Commonwealth silver medalist and now president of Race Walking NZ Alana Barber-Blocki chats to Emile Donovan.
New Zealand's Alana Barber takes silver in the womens 20km race walk. Picture by John Cowpland / www.photosport.nz Photo:
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 The history of stargazing
Human beings have looked upwards since our necks allowed.
Laura Burn is a PhD candidate in physics at the University of Auckland. She also works at the Auckland planetarium, Star Dome.
She is taking part in the University's Raising The Bar event: twenty free researcher talks talking place across ten bars in one night, across Auckland.
While Laura's talk is fully booked, check out the other events on offer here.
Laura Burn joins Emile Donovan in the Auckland studio to share the human history of stargazing.
PhD candidate in physics Laura Burn is presenting a talk on the history of stargazing at Shadows Bar as part of Raising the Bar on Tuesday August 26. Photo: Supplied
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
On The Detail - Auckland's economy is falling behind that of the South Island and rural areas, and no government hero is coming to the rescue.
10:45 The Reading: The Thrill of Falling
We continue our four-part reading of 'The Thrill of Falling' by Witi Ihimaera.
Koro continues his storytelling about Tupaea, determined that his mauri is in Little -Tu, despite puberty and bad behaviour kicking in.
11:07 Worlds of Music
Trevor Reekie hosts a weekly music programme celebrating an eclectic mix of trans global music, fusion and folk roots.
