Nights for Wednesday 17 April 2024

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 Jukebox

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

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

8:45 The Reading 

Tonight, episode ten of 'The Swing Around' written by Barbara Anderson and read by Miranda Harcourt.

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 The challenges of collecting data

We have our monthly chat with the good people at Stats NZ where we find out what statistics can tell us about life here in Aotearoa New Zealand and what they can't tell us.

Chief executive of Stats NZ Mark Sowden joins Emile to discuss why collecting data in this country has been getting more and more challenging. 

9:30 Midweek Mediawatch

Colin Peacock joins Nights to debrief another big week in the media.

Tonight, what will the Stuff- Newshub deal mean? No reprieve for TVNZ journalists and another blow to the media, this time from NZ Post.

10:17 NZ developed video game to hit the big screen

A New Zealand-made fishing video game is getting turned into a movie.

Christchurch-based indie game developers Black Salt Games have signed a deal with media company Story Kitchen to bring their single-player adventure 'Dredge' to life on the big screen.

The forthcoming movie has been described as an "atmospheric cosmic horror blend of HP Lovecraft and Ernest Hemingway".

Black Salt Games Producer's Nadia Thorne and Lead Artist Alex Ritchie join Emile Donovan.

10:30 Explainer: How to become an art collector?

Collecting art can enrich your home life, expand your worldview and be a satisfying form of self-expression 

But where do you start? How do you afford it? And how do you find a piece you're confident you're going to love forever?

Bentley de Beyer spent 25 years as a corporate executive in Asia and the US and has been collecting art with his husband, interior designer Dean Sharpe, for over 20 years. 

He's giving a panel discussion on art collecting this Saturday as part of the Aotearoa Art Fair at Auckland's Viaduct, and he joins Emile Donovan.

10:45 How AI can help you be funnier

University of Sydney researchers have developed an AI application using cartoons from The New Yorker to help people be funnier.

Dr Anusha Withana from the university's School of Computer Science and Digital Sciences Initiative joins Emile Donovan to explain how it works.

11:07 Maggie Tweedie with the Music 101 Pocket Edition

On this week's episode we hear new music from Jamie XX, Warpaint and Georgia Gets By.

And Brooke Fraser lifts the lid on a special one night show she has planned with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in June.