Nights for Thursday 11 September 2025

8:10 What now after the Charlie Kirk assassination?

The United States is on edge following the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk.

Kirk was a prominent conservative commentator and organizer, known for his influential role in shaping youth political engagement.

He was killed while speaking at the University of Utah and the shooter is yet to be caught.

Waikato University's International Law professor Alexander Gillespie joins Mark Leishman to talk about the situation and what is likely to unfold over the coming days and weeks.

8:20 Why paranormal investigators are heading to the Whangamōmona Hotel

Above the stairway in the historic Whangamōmona Hotel in east Taranaki hangs a portrait of Joseph Lewandowski.

The local bushman was frequent visitor there until his death in 1959, but now wanders the corridors, haunting the century-old hotel.

Or so the story goes....

Now a group of paranormal investigators are planning to spend two nights at the hotel to try and find any evidence of strange goings on.

Barbara Caisley is the spokesperson for Paranormal Researchers NZ and she joins Mark Leishman.

8:40 New book shines light on Lawrence Chinese Camp in Central Otago 

The Lawrence Chinese Camp in Central Otago was founded in 1867 at the start of the gold rush, and was home to dozens of Chinese families who came to New Zealand to seek their fortune.

Adrienne Shaw is the author of a new history of the camp and it's descendants and she's proud to count herself as one of them.

The book is called "Tuapeka Chows". Adrienne joins Mark Leishman from Alexandra.

Email Adrienne for presale enquiries: onemadcow@xtra.co.nz

9:05 Nights Quiz

Do you know your stuff? Come on the air and be grilled by Mark Leishman as he dons his quiz master 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 Inside the world of professional sport 

Sport is something most New Zealanders engage with, whether watching the All Blacks, cheering on kids from the sidelines, or talking about the weekend's results at work.

And for a select few, it can become a lucrative-and in some cases, highly paid-career, though it's not all glamour and fame.

Dr Phil Borell is a sport sociologist, coach, sports dad and his research gives professional athletes a platform to share their lived experiences.

Next week he will be speaking at the The Laboratory in Lincoln exploring Polynesian masculinities in sport, the role of culture and language and the pressures shaping athletes' lives on and off the field as part of the Raising the Bar event.

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 - Entrenched gang conflict, personal grudges and methamphetamine use have fuelled a spate of gang shootings in Levin.

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10:45 The Reading

This week, our story is a salute to the renowned story-teller Margaret Mahy, who passed away in 2012. 

It's 'The Devil and the Corner Grocer' dramatised for radio by Margaret Burnett.

In today's episode, the traveller brings some new instants to Mr Philpott, and there's a party in the park.

11:07 The Mixtape: Ipu Laga'aia

New Zealand-born Samoan tenor Ipu Laga'aia studied classical voice at the University of Auckland and has performed alongside Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.

This year marks his professional role debut as Theseus, in New Zealand Opera's Australasian premiere of The Monster in the Maze. He is also a member of The Shades - a quartet of Tongan and Samoan voices who blend gospel, popular music, opera and Pacific Island culture in their performances.

He joins Kara Rickard to share six favourite songs.