Nights for Wednesday 29 October 2025
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Outgoing police association president Chris Cahill reflects on tenure
9:25 PM.Detective Inspector Chris Cahill served as president of the New Zealand Police Association for nine years, from 2016 to 2025. Read more Audio
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Kiwi team out to reclaim title in annual trans-Tasman sheep dog trials
8:20 PM.Lloyd Smith has been competing in dog trials since the 1970s and joins Emile Donovan from his farm near Palmerston in Otago Read more Audio
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The pros and cons of a social media ban for young people
8:10 PM.We are joined by two experts who come down on different sides of the issue, clinical psychologist Dr Danielle Einstein and media lecturer Dr Alex Beattie. Read more Audio
8:10 The pros and cons of a social media ban for young people
In a world first, Australia will, in December, introduce a social media ban for under sixteen-year-olds.
Here at home, National Party MP Catherine Wedd submitted a members' bill to do the same and it's just been drawn from the biscuit tin, last week, meaning it will be debated in Parliament.
Supporters of the ban say social media is a minefield of violent and sexual content, not to mention enabling a whole other world of bullying and harassment.
But opponents say social media is a tool like any other and young people should be supported to use it positively.
We are joined by two experts who come down on different sides of the issue, clinical psychologist Dr Danielle Einstein and media lecturer Dr Alex Beattie.
Apps for social media services including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Threads, Telegram and others. Photo: Victor Okhrimets / 123RF
8:20 Kiwi team out to reclaim title in annual trans-Tasman sheep dog trials
Move over the Bledisloe Cup, forget the Chappell Hadlee Trophy, the premier trans-Tasman sporting prize is up for grabs this Friday.
We are talking about the Wayleggo Cup, the annual Trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial Test.
New Zealand has traditionally ruled the roost, winning 21 of the 37 contests so far.
But last year the Aussies snatched victory on home soil, so the Kiwi team will be out to reclaim their rightful spot at the top of the pecking order when the test kicks off Friday at the Ashburton A & P Show.
Lloyd Smith has been competing in dog trials since the 1970s and joins Emile Donovan from his farm near Palmerston in Otago
Photo: SUPPLIED
8:30 Midweek Mediawatch
Colin Peacock joins Emile Donovan to debrief the week in media news.
Tonight - the media coverage of the two big storm systems in the past seven days, frustration around what was behind the two-month standoff and re-instatement of Silver Ferns coaching Dame Noeline Taurua, and RNZ's new podcast Nark out today which centres on the effort to clear the name of a dead man convicted of murder.
Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell briefs media on storm recovery in Invercargill. Photo: RNZ/Jimmy Ellingham
9:05 Nights Riddle
Emile Donovan dons his riddle master 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.
9:25 Outgoing police association president Chris Cahill reflects on tenure
Detective Inspector Chris Cahill served as president of the New Zealand Police Association for nine years, from 2016 to 2025.
He was a serving police officer for 30 years, from 1986 to 2016.
The New Zealand Police Association has 13,500 members, including 99 percent of police officers, and 75 percent of police staff. There are just over 10,000 serving police officers in New Zealand.
During his tenure, Chris Cahill advocated for tighter gun laws, increased police staffing and arming of police, and finally, urged the rollout of body cameras on all frontline police.
He was president during the March 15 shooting, Covid lockdowns, and Parliament protests.
He joins Emile Donovan.
Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
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
Today on The Detail - The amount of child sexual abuse material entering New Zealand is increasing and getting 'more violent' - and the Customs team managing it can't keep up.
Simon Peterson, Chief Customs Officer, Child Exploitation Operations Team Photo: Greenstone
10:45 The Reading: The Dwarf Who Moved Episode 5
Prominent criminal defence lawyer Peter Williams recalls The Arthur Alan Thomas case in today's story from his series about the people and cases that have defined his remarkable career.
11:07 Not for Broadcast: Part 4
Songs and censorship have a long-connected history, which Nick Bollinger has been exploring in Not for Broadcast.
In the fourth part of this series Nick Bollinger looks at the popular subject of sex and listens to a few songs that have, at different times, been considered too sexy for the airwaves.
11:30 Musical Chairs: Delaney Davidson
Delaney Davidson is an award-winning artist best known for his gothic folk country persona and prolific output who has also played an important and influential role in local music as producer, collaborator and catalyst for artists such as Tami Neilson, Marlon Williams, Barry Saunders and Troy Kingi. He is also the musical Director for the 2025 Silver Scroll awards.
In this episode of Musical Chairs, Delaney talks about his punk roots, performance art forays and how the collaboration is key to his creativity.
Delaney Davidson Photo: supplied
