Nights for Thursday 20 November 2025

8:10 Is the Government about to sell Lotto?

For over 60 years, the New Zealand government has owned the national lottery in one form or another.

But it could now be sold, at least in part, to a private company.

According to reports, National is exploring the possibility but is likely to face pushback from its coalition partner, NZ First.

Newsroom.co.nz National Affairs editor Sam Sachdeva has been reporting on the potential sale and speaks to Emile Donovan.

8:25 The House

Tonight, on The House, Daniela Maoate-Cox looks at the Clean Vehicle Standards bill's journey to law under urgency this week. 

8:30 Philosophy Now

Once a month, we get philosophical here on Nights.

Dan Weijers, a senior lecturer in philosophy at the University of Waikato, joins me to tackle some of life's biggest questions-whether it's about love, death, or happiness.

Tonight: Is there a right, and a wrong, that everyone can agree with? If it exists, how do we find it? If it doesn't exist... are we in trouble?

8:40 In her seventh decade punk legend Toody Cole shows no sign of stopping

Toody Cole, and her late husband Fred, made a name for themselves in America's punk-rock scene in the eighties and nineties in cult classic band, Dead Moon.

Now age 76, Toody has not given up the punk rock life: she is still touring, playing bass and vocals, and shows no sign of stopping.

She's coming to Auckland for The Other's Way, a one-day music festival taking over stages and venues across Karangahape Road.

Emile Donovan speaks to Toody from her home in Portland, Oregon.

Toody's tour dates:

• Tuesday 25 November - Whammy Bar, Auckland
• Wednesday 26 November - Valhalla, Wellington
• Thursday 27 November - Space Academy, Christchurch
• Friday 28 November - Harbour View Hotel, Raglan
• Saturday 29 November - The Others Way, Auckland

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 Is New Zealand in danger of population stagnation? 

It wasn't long ago that New Zealand was seen as one of the most desirable places to live in the world. Our migration levels were high, people were choosing to stay, and there was a sense that the population was steadily growing and becoming more diverse.

Now, only a few years later, the picture looks quite different.

Growth has slowed, more New Zealanders are heading overseas, particularly to Australia, and the country is now facing the real possibility of population stagnation. 

That raises big questions about what this means for our economic resilience, our workforce and the long-term shape of our communities.

To help make sense of it all Emile Donovan speaks to distinguished professor emeritus and research director at Massey University, Paul Spoonley.

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 - Kākāpō numbers are recovering at such a rate that we are running out of pest-free islands to put them on 

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10:45 The Reading: Farm for Life

Episode four in an eight-part adaptation of a memoir describing how Tangaroa Walker turned his life around through farming - and how what he learned can help anyone succeed.

11:07 The Mixtape

The Others Way is an annual festival that takes place in Auckland, this year closing down part of K Rd to accommodate 3000 ticket-holders.

Festival director Reuben Bonner talks about the work that goes into such a large undertaking, the jobs that built his skill set, and shares five of his favourite songs.