Nights for Wednesday 1 October 2025
-
Jane Wrightson on her time as the Retirement Commissioner
9:15 PM.Even Retirement Commissioners get to retire. Jane Wrightson speaks to Emile Donovan about the challenges still to come as New Zealand's population ages. Audio
-
Government announces energy sector "shake-up"
Marc Daalder, a reporter at Newsroom who covers New Zealand’s energy market, joins Emile to explain what’s happening in the electricity sector. Read more Audio
8:10 Government announces energy sector "shake-up"
The government unveiled its long-awaited reforms to New Zealand’s energy sector this morning.
But the announcement has left business groups, electricity retailers and those calling for more public ownership disappointed.
It follows a major independent report that called for a significant shake-up, warning the energy sector could face serious problems if nothing were done.
So, what is the government actually doing, and why do so many think it hasn’t gone far enough?
Marc Daalder, a reporter at Newsroom who covers New Zealand’s energy market, joins Emile to explain what’s happening in the electricity sector.
Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
8:25 Dial-up set to go the way of the dinosaurs
Who remembers the screeching dial-up sound when you needed to connect to the internet?
Those days are now officially over with American provider AOL switching off its dial-up internet service in the United States after 34 years.
Emile chats with Gorilla chief executive and tech futurist Paul Spain.
90s Dial Up Equipment on a Trolley Photo: The Serial Port / Supplied
8:30 Midweek Mediawatch
Colin Peacock joins Emile Donovan to debrief the week in media news.
Tonight he takes a look at the media council's ruling around the reporting of a trans teenager who died alone in emergency accommodation, as well as feedback about the lack of coverage around the Black Ferns and the Women's Rugby World Cup.
9:05 Nights Riddle
Emile Donovan dons his riddlemaster robe. Listen in from 8:00pm for a series of riddle clues sprinkled throughout the programme.
First person to text in the correct answer wins a coveted Nights mug. Text 2101.
9:15 Jane Wrightson on her time as the Retirement Commissioner
Even Retirement Commissioners get to retire.
Jane Wrightson will be stepping down as New Zealand's Retirement Commissioner early next year, just before the end of her second term.
During her tenure, she's advocated for higher minimum KiwiSaver contributions and the teaching of financial literacy from a young age. She's also overseen a historic review into the laws governing retirement villages
She speaks to Emile Donovan about the challenges she faced during her time in the role, as well as what challenges are still to come as New Zealand continues to get older.
Photo: RNZ / Jeff McEwan
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
Tonight on The Detail - A new tripartite agreement for the Port of Auckland signals a turnaround for a workplace long dogged by controversy, including debt, delays and death
10:45 The Reading: Garibaldi Did Not Sleep Here
Paul Horan to read the second episode of 'Garibaldi Did Not Sleep Here' -- an account of his trip to Italy to retrace the steps of his illustrious and over-enthusiastic English ancestor, Colonel Peard.
11:07 Family Affair with Nick Bollinger
The world of popular music is filled with siblings and parents, daughters and sons, making music together. In the first of four programmes, Nick Bollinger conducts an informal survey of musical families and features a few of his favourites.
