Nights for Wednesday 13 November 2024

8:10 The House

Tonight on our Parliament show - The House - Phil Smith follows on yesterday's talking about what is or can be political. Pretty much everything it seems.

8:15 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.

Follow this podcast

8:30 Nights Jukebox

Emile Donovan plays your requests - as long as you've got a compelling reason, or a good story to go with it.

Send in your requests to nights@rnz.co.nz or text 2101.

Featuring:

8:45 The Reading: Frame

Tonight we have another reading from Vincent O'Sullivan's story collection The Families. Madeline McNamara reads Frame.

Cecilia joins a mail-order bride company in the Philippines and lives with a widowed farmer in the Waikato.

9:07 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.

The quiz is themed - find out more about tonight's theme on Nights' Facebook page.

9:15 Myth Takes with Ben Jackson: Dictators and despots

It's time for our monthly visit to the ancient world, with classics educator and enthusiast Ben Jackson.

Tonight, we have a pantheon of dictators and despots, including Nero, Caligula, and a bloke called Draco.

9:30 Midweek Mediawatch

Colin Peacock joins Emile Donovan for Mediawatch's weekly catch-up.

Tonight they're talking about the big week in political news, more cuts at TVNZ and the breaking news banner hall of shame.

10:17 New Zealand leading the way in nuclear fusion?

A Wellington start-up has achieved a nuclear fusion breakthrough, being the first New Zealand company ever to turn on a fusion machine.

OpenStar Technologies says fusion technology could revolutionise the electricity market by providing limitless renewable power.  

Thomas Berry is Deputy Director of Plasma Science at OpenStar Technologies.

Emile Donovan speaks to him about what OpenStar Technologies has achieved, with some background on nuclear fusion and its potential.

10:30 What are betting markets and are they more accurate than polling?

Other than Donald Trump and the Republican party one of the big winners from the US election was a trader from France known as Theo.

The Frenchman is estimated to have made over $85 million US after placing bets on President Trump ultimately triumphing over Kamala Harris.

He placed those bets on a prediction market called Polymarket, one of several websites where people could bet on the outcome of the election.

A big proponent of these markets and someone who understands how they work is the Chief Economist at The New Zealand Initiative Eric Crampton.

He speaks to Emile Donovan.

10:45 The Wellington GP trying to break a unicycle world record

Ken Looi is an adventure unicyclist and GP based in Wellington.

This weekend, at his old primary school, he will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for 24-hour unicycle distance, aiming to rack up 500 kilometres, with his attempt raising money for the Malaghan Institute.

Emile Donovan speaks to him about his preparation ahead of the big day.

11:07 Pocket Edition

In Pocket Edition this week Maggie Tweedie delivers a show full of fresh new music for your spring playlist and we hear Adam Hattaway and the Haunters perform live.