Nights for Wednesday 3 December 2025

8:10 New Zealand's obsession with property might finally be coming to an end

Does owning a home in New Zealand not have the appeal it once did?

Duncan Greive, founder of The Spinoff, has written an article asking whether New Zealand’s property obsession is finally over.

Duncan spells out his argument with Emile Donovan.

8:25 The House

Tonight, on The House, Phil looks at the numbers that feed into Parliament's scrutiny week, with a little help from the Police hearing. 

8:30 Midweek Mediawatch

Colin Peacock joins Emile Donovan to debrief the week in media news.

Tonight he's talking the media's attention focused on the possible rolling of the Prime Minister, a scoop by investigative reporter Paula Penfold and good news for RNZ.

9:05 Nights Riddle

Tune in throughout the night for a series of riddle clues.

Be the first to text in the right answer and win a Nights mug.

Text 2101 or email nights@rnz.co.nz

CLUE 1: 

I am - well, I am many things. You can see me in the water, you can see me in a garden - you can see me in your frying pan, in a manner of speaking; safety-first, after all. I am found on EVERY continent - except Antarctica. 

CLUE 2:

I count among my number kings and queens, bloodied sailors, and many, many showoffs. I am regarded as the cute one in my family, AND the smart one. My poor old cousins are addicts - they work the night shift.

CLUE 3:

I’ve changed a LOT from my youth - I had to spend some time in a golden house, which changed my perspective completely. I am a salutary lesson: even something that SEEMS insignificant can have huge effects down the line. 

9:10 Science with Ezzy Pearson

Emile talks science with our correspondent Ezzy Pearson.

Tonight they're talking about Mayan cosmology, tiny T-Rex and gravitational waves.

9:25 What we borrowed from the library in 2025 

This year's most popular books at our major city libraries have been revealed today.

Auckland Library alone recorded 11 million physical checkouts - with a real life spy story the number one book borrowed this year.

"The Last Secret Agent" is about World War 2 spy Pippa Latour who died in West Auckland in 2023.

For more on the books that proved popular this year Emile Donovan speaks to Auckland Libraries Manager of Public Engagement Krissy Taylor 

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

On The Detail - Aviation under pressure: Airbus A320 glitch adds to a year of crashes, questions, and shaken confidence.

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10:45 The Reading

Having tentatively dipped her toes into the great melting pot of blues music our innocent hero finds herself hooked and impelled to live dangerously. Michele Amas reads the third part of 'Cotton-Eyed Joe' written by Susy Pointon.

Cotton-Eyed Joe is no figment of the imagination. He was a genuine DJ with the NZBC whose real name was Arthur Pearce. His most famous and long-running show  was 'Rhythm on Record'  -  where the host was known as 'Turntable' .But later he used a different pseudonym: Cotton-Eyed Joe for a much more informal, subversive  rhythm and blues show  Big Beat Ball.

11:07 RNZ Music: David Bowie

Time now to look through the archives at the legacy of the late David Bowie. In this episode series presenter George Kay focuses on the songs Bowie covered and his own songs reinterpreted by fellow musicians.