Nights for Thursday 22 February 2024

7:12 Our Changing World

On Our Changing World this week we join the Antarctic Heritage Trust's 9th Inspiring Explorers Expedition to South Georgia. 

Peregrin Hyde is one of 22 young New Zealanders visiting this wild and remote Atlantic Island to be inspired by the wilderness, and to follow in the footsteps of the Antarctic explorers of old. 

100 years since Sir Ernest Shackleton's untimely death in South Georgia, the team are taking weather measurements, using techniques Shackleton's crew would have used, as well as collecting observations using modern day technology. 

7:45 The Reading

Tonight, the final episode of 'Tipface Bunyan' by Susie Pointon, read here by Judith Gibson.

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 BBC Health Check

Carnival hits the streets in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this week. As well as preparations for the crowds and colourful processions, health authorities have also been putting in extra measures to try to contain a huge outbreak of dengue fever.

And news from Alaska, where an elderly man has become the first person to die from Alaskapox, a viral disease more commonly found in small animals like shrews and voles

And could new UK research on 50,000 people's blood help us get one step closer to a predictive blood test for Alzheimer's disease?

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 I Was There When: Homosexuality was decriminalised

Every Thursday here on Nights, we speak to someone who was there when history was made in New Zealand.

Bill Logan was part of the push to decriminalise homosexuality back in 1986. 

Back then he was a member of the Gay Task Force, but just a few years ago, he also lobbied to expunge the convictions for homosexuality under that old law.

He joins Emile Donovan to reflect on the progress that's been made in LGBTQIA+ rights, and what still needs to be done.

9:35 To boo, or not to boo?

When Australian cricketer David Warner took to the pitch last night, he was greeted with resounding boos from the crowd at Sky Stadium in Wellington.

An issue not unique to cricket, players and umpires alike have complained of the crowd tradition across the sporting spectrum.

Is it all part of the theatre of sport - or is booing just plain bad manners?

RNZ sports reporter Jamie Wall weighs in with Emile Donovan.

10:17 Who is to blame when a chat bot gives a wrong answer?

Artificial intelligence chat bots are quickly becoming part of how customers interact with large businesses.

Banks, insurance companies and even supermarkets use the technology to streamline processes for users - or if you're taking a more cynical view, saving themselves paying customer service workers.

But what happens when the advice a chatbot dishes out is wrong? Who is to blame? 

A recent court case in Canada gives a glimpse into where liability might land.

Associate professor in commercial law at the University of Auckland Alex Sims joins Emile Donovan to discuss this expanding field of law.

10:30 Sirens of the Silver Screen sashays into Auckland's Q Theatre

The popularity of drag has exploded in the mainstream consciousness thanks in most part to the reality television series RuPaul's Drag Race. 

And New Zealand is along for the ride, with a multitude of drag acts performing to sold out crowds across the country.

Les Femmes is a one of those acts, and the trio are currently staging their comedy cabaret drag extravaganza Sirens Of The Silver Screen at Auckland's Q Theatre.

Founder and performer Jeremy Hinman, also known as Miss Manage, joins Emile Donovan.

10:45 Global Democracy Index shows Asia-Pacific in an age of conflict

The Economic Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index for 2023 shows a negative trend for democracy globally, with a new low average score of 5.23 out of a possible 10.

More than half of the countries in Asia saw their democracy scores go down, with concerns about the erosion of civil liberties and political pluralism.

Joan Hoey is the editor of the Democracy Index and she joins Emile Donovan.

11:07 The Mixtape

Here is Charlotte Ryan with another instalment of The Mixtape. This week's guest is musician Jean McAllister. Jean was part of iconic theatre music troupe called 'Red Mole'. A documentary of Red Mole is in cinemas now.