Nights for Wednesday 28 January 2026

8:10 Young New Zealanders say the system is broken and they feel powerless to fix it

Young Kiwis are more connected and informed than ever in 2026, but Outward Bound's Crisis of Confidence report shows they still feel isolated, disempowered and divided from their peers.

The majority of young New Zealanders surveyed say they feel the world is in decline and it's raising some big questions about how our next generation sees the future.

Susana Lei'ataua talks to Outward Bound CEO Malindi MacLean.

8:25 The House 

Tonight on our Parliament show - The House - Phil Smith looks for electoral approaches in the openings of the debate on the Prime Minister's Statement. 

8:30 Midweek Mediawatch

Colin Peacock joins Susana Lei'ataua to debrief the week in media news.

9:05 Nights Quiz

Do you know your stuff? Come on the air and be grilled by Susana Lei'ataua as she dons her 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.

9:20 Nights Science with Ezzy Pearson

Nights science correspondent Ezzy Pearson has more than a decade of experience in science journalism, including as Features Editor of BBC’s Sky at Night magazine.

She’s also the author of Robots in Space: The Secret Lives of Our Planetary Explorers and holds a PhD in Astrophysics from Cardiff University. 

9.30 What is hyrox and why is everyone talking about it?

You might've been hearing a word popping up lately - Hyrox, Hyrox, Hyrox. It's nothing new to gym regulars, but if you're not in that world, no … we're not talking about tall rocks.

Hyrox is a global fitness race that's exploded in popularity over the past few years. A mix of running and functional workout stations, designed so everyday people and elite athletes can line up in the same event.

And the scale is huge: London pulled 40,000 competitors at a single event last year. Events sell out fast, and there's talk about whether it deserves a place at the Olympics.

The 2026 New Zealand event gets underway tomorrow in Auckland. 

Gary Moodie, owner of Flex Fitness gyms in Kaiapoi and Rangiora is about to compete in his very first Hyrox race.

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 - The record number of prisoners are bouncing between facilities around the country, stretching court resources and rehabilitation programmes

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10:45 The Reading

Toinght's reading is 'Turaki Domain'  by Justin Eade read by Simon Ferry

Tex Rapley has played rugby against the best in the finest stadiums of the world, today he is turning out on the Turaki Domain, number two field, in front of thirty spectators and a dog.

We will have the second half tomorrow

11:07 Enzology - The Story of Split Enz

In Episode 6 of Enzology, RNZ Music's story of Split Enz, the band base themselves in Australia again and nearly break up due to bad debts.

A successful tour re-balances the books, as does the huge radio hit I Got You and album True Colours. The Enz simultaneously hit the charts in the UK and USA and begin recording the follow-up album, Waiata.