Nights for Thursday 4 September 2025

8:10 Concern proposed changes to gambling laws could devastate sports clubs

A bill currently before Parliament, that is supposed to led to a more regulated a safer gambling environment, may have unintended consequences on Grassroots sporting organisations already struggling to survive.

The Online Casino Gambling Bill would license offshore casino operators in New Zealand, but unlike pokies, there's no requirement for them to return any of their profits back into communities. 

Blake Bennett is a Senior Lecturer in Sport Coaching and Pedagogy, University of Auckland, and joins Mark Leishman.

8:20 Celebrating 70 years of the Guinness Book of World Records

With its first edition printed in 1955, the book is now a household name, with over 155 million copies sold worldwide, containing thousands of world records, from the weird and wonderful, to the downright impressive.

Brian Sobel is an official Guinness World Record adjudicator based in Australia, one of only around 75 worldwide.

Brian joins Mark Leishman to celebrate all things world records

8:40 Remembering the 'quake that started it all'

It was on this day in 2010 that a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Canterbury, causing widespread damage to properties, businesses and infrastructure. 

The quake was at 4:35am, meaning most people were at home in bed, and there was relief that there was no loss of life.

However sadly, the worst was to come. Just after 12:50pm on the afternoon of February 22 a 6.1 magnitude struck the region, this time killing 185 people and causing devastating damage to the city.

Andrew Holden was the editor of The Press back then, and he joins Mark Leishman.

9:05 Nights Quiz

Do you know your stuff? Come on the air and be grilled by Mark Leishman 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 Growing up gay in the shadow of New Plymouth prison

Set in New Plymouth in the 1960s, a new book follows a teenage boy who takes it upon himself to investigate the disappearance of the openly gay barman of his parents' pub.

The book is a work of autofiction: the author actually grew up as a young gay man in New Plymouth in the 60s working at his parents' pub, in the shadow of New Plymouth Prison, which held those convicted of homosexual acts, a crime in New Zealand until the mid-1980s.

Jeffrey Buchanan is the author of The Birds Began to Sing, his fifth novel. It received the Michael Gifkins Prize for an unpublished manuscript in 2024 and is on shelves now.

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, the road to getting a driver license is set to become easier and more efficient, but experts question whether safety is enough of a consideration

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10:45 The Reading

A bad day for a grumpy teenager ends with an unexpected insight.

Kelson Henderson reads 'Planting Marigolds' by Timothy Stevenson. 

11:07 The Mixtape

Our guest this week with Tony Stamp is music journalist, DJ and broadcaster Martyn Pepperell, sharing an expertly curated selection of songs.

Arooj Aftab - Diya Hai
Susumu Yokota - Saku
Surly - Thirteen
Joanna Grauer - Inside Outside
Suzanne Menzel - I Feel It Starts Again