Nights for Friday 16 February 2024

7:10 Country Life

Country Life takes you down country roads to meet ordinary people achieving their dreams.

This week, owner and founder of Te Pā Wines, Haysley MacDonald, was born and bred on the family's Wairau Bar farm in Marlborough. His ancestors first landed on the coastal property over 800 years ago and have lived there ever since those early migrations.

Also, Bryan Crump visits former Wellington percussionist, Jeremy Fitzsimons, who is now based on the family farm in the Kauaeranga Valley near Thames.

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.

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8:30 Tenuous Connections: Dogs

Songs about dogs, dogs about songs.

Send us in your dog-themed request to nights@rnz.co.nz or text us on 2101.

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 This Weekend: Taylor Swift takes the stage in Melbourne 

Every Friday, we bring you some of the most interesting events and happenings coming up in Aotearoa this weekend - from the community fair to the massive concerts.

This weekend, the biggest event for New Zealanders this weekend isn't even in New Zealand.

Nights crosses to the Melbourne Cricket Club Reserve where 86,000 people, including thousands of Kiwis, await the biggest popstar on the planet, Taylor Swift.

9:20 This Weekend: Nelson Golf Croquet champs cracks into action

The Nelson Hinemoa Croquet Club will be hosting the top of the south golf croquet champs this weekend, with the doubles on Saturday and the singles on Sunday.

It's free entry for anyone who wants to come and watch the games.

Annie Henry is the manager of the Nelson tournament and she joins Nights to share the action.

9:30 Short-Cuts with Dan Slevin

Nights' resident film buff reviews Laura Chinn's coming-of-age drama Suncoast (2024), the newly-released, fully-restored complete series box-set of Monty Python's Flying Circus, and a duo of superhero movies streaming free-to-air on TVNZ+, Venom (2018) and Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021).

10:17 Port Hills blaze: Day three recap

RNZ reporter Anna Sargent updates Emile Donovan with the latest on the fire in Christchurch's Port Hills.

10:20 Becoming an empty-nester

Next week marks the start of university semesters in New Zealand.

Thousands of parents will be dropping off their children at flats and residential colleges to take their first step into independent life.

Psychologist Gloria Fraser joins Nights to talk through the complex feelings that come with saying goodbye and navigating relationships with adult children.

10:30 Out Lately with Finn Johansson

He's back, and no doubt ready to inform, educate and entertain us with an array of eclectic music.

Tonight, Finn is playing new music from Dunedin-based singer-songwriter Maxine Funke, Japanese folklore-pop fusion Chiyomi Yamada, and a classic from heavy metal band Danzig.

11:07 RNZ Concert

This week's concert features the soaring sounds of Senegelese superstar Yousou N'dour.

Time now to join Trevor Reekie with another performance from WOMAD 2023 recorded live in New Plymouth.