Nights for Thursday 6 November 2025

8:10 How concerned should we be about hornets arriving in New Zealand?

Since a nest was first discovered in Auckland last month, thousands of concerned people have got in touch with Biosecurity New Zealand, with four queen hornet nests found and destroyed so far.

The yellow-legged hornets are very different from honeybees and a far cry worse than our wasps, too.

Hornet-watcher Phil Lester is a professor of ecology and entomology at Victoria University of Wellington.

8:25 The House

Tonight, on The House, Louis goes along to see a former Prime Minister tell a select committee what parts of Parliament's rules should change. 

8:30 The power of eye contact with Julia de Bres 

It is time now for our monthly chat with Nights' resident sociolinguist, Associate Professor Julia de Bres of Massey University

After nearly two years of chatting about language on the radio, Emile and Julia are meeting in person for the first time! 

To make this momentous event as awkward as possible, Julia wants to talk about eye contact. 

8:45 Quakes: Can we predict when the 'big one' will hit?

It's been about 2,600 since New Zealand's last large earthquake of magnitude six or more.

And that's the longest stretch without a big shake since records began, 110 years ago.

Meanwhile, the Alpine Fault which runs through the South Island is 'overdue' for a big one. It regularly ruptures every 300 or so years, and the last one was 1717.

Why do earthquakes have rhythms, or regularity? Can we predict quakes with any certainty? Is there rhyme or reason?

Joining Emile to explain is earthquake geologist, Doctor Rob Langridge from Earth Sciences New Zealand.

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 What's the secret behind IKEA's global success?

It's been a long time coming for fans of flat-pack furniture, Scandinavian design, and, of course, meatballs ... But in just under a month, retail giant IKEA will finally open its first store in New Zealand.

The Swedish furniture behemoth's 34,000-square-metre store at Sylvia Park in Auckland opens on December 4.

The aisles aren't even filled yet, but excitement is already building among fans, with some saying they'll drive the length of the country just to be there when the doors slide open for the very first time.

So why does IKEA inspire such a cult-like following? Is it just clever marketing and brand development, or is there something deeper at play?

Emile Donovan speaks to University of Otago consumer behaviour expert Professor Lisa McNeill.

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 - A key player in the curriculum rewrite says the criticism is overblown - and not a reflection what the sector thinks

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10:45 The Reading

Time now for more of 'Keeping an Eye' by Vincent O'Sullivan read by Gavin Rutherford.

Brendan's sister Susan has rung to tell him their father Stan has done something bad in the rest home.  He goes to find out more.

11:07 The Mixtape

Ten years on from her last Mixtape appearance, the esteemed singer-songwriter Mel Parsons joins us to share songs from some of her favourite Christchurch musicians.