Nights for Thursday 4 December 2025

8:10 IKEA opens its modular doors to Auckland

First up tonight, the store that launched a thousand traffic jams ... or not.

Swedish furniture giant IKEA opened its doors in Auckland this morning after months of build up, with five hundred workers hired on to staff it.

The prime minister was there, a giant Swedish meatball mascot was there, and a queue of 800 people waiting to get in. It was expected to bring highways to a stand still, but did it?

Nights' very own traffic correspondent was there -- Hayden Donnell.

8:25 The House

Tonight, on The House, Louis looks at one of the more tedious but perhaps more useful scrutiny hearings this week. 

8:30 The dos & don'ts of Secret Santa

The festive season is fast approaching, and for many workplaces, that means one thing - the office Secret Santa. 

It's an opportunity for a bit of fun, but can also be a bit of a minefield.

So what are the key tips to for making your work Secret Santa a success?

For all the answers, Chief MyHR Evangelist Sylvie Thrush Marsh joins Emile Donovan.

8:45 Laser Kiwi: From flag design to icon 

Earlier this week, we spoke with Kyle Lockwood, the designer of the Silver Fern flag, which 43 percent of voters thought should have become New Zealand's official flag 10 years ago.

Tonight, it’s Lucy Gray’s turn: the creative mind behind the Laser Kiwi!

While her design never came close to becoming the official flag, it has certainly left a lasting impact. Lucy chats with Emile about the legacy of her iconic creation.

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 Bush poet celebrating 125 years of Banjo Paterson with one-man show

Australian bush poet Gregory North is a self-confessed Banjo Paterson "tragic."

So much so that he's written two books on the iconic Australian poet and has recorded a double album of his poetry.

And now Gregory is touring a one-man show to mark 125 years since Paterson's 1901 Boer War lecture series in New Zealand and Australia.

Gregory North chats to Emile live from our Wellington studio.

Check out Gregory North's tour dates here

9:40 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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9.55 Live from Franklin Road

We cross to Auckland's Franklin Road, where every year, residents light up the entire street with elaborate Christmas displays.

RNZ reporter Symone Tafuna'i is there to see what all the fuss is about.

10:17 The Detail

On The Detail - There's a lot of hand-wringing but few answers when it comes to culling New Zealand's rapidly expanding deer population

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10:45 The Reading: 'Cotton-Eyed Joe'

Tonight we have the concluding episode of the reading of 'Cotton-Eyed Joe' by Susy Pointon read by Michele Amas 

Our 14-year-old heroine has ventured to the wrong side of town and down into a basement Jazz club which she believes to harbour heroin addicts, sex maniacs and unrepentant worshippers of the Devils Music.

11:07 The Mixtape

Kara Rickard is joined by musician Kirsten Morrell, picking songs on The Mixtape

The Goldenhorse frontwoman and solo musician tells Kara about her new single 'Hoping and Wishing', and spotlights some tracks that have inspired her over the years.