Nights

8:10 The story behind our retail crime statistics 

We're all familiar with the retail crime wave that hit New Zealand post-Covid. 

It was one for the history books: this was ramraid season, the season of those terrible dairy stabbings, and the data showed us that lawlessness was on the rise. 

Fast forward to 2026 and a lot has changed. Governments have overseen increases to policing, shops have upped their security tech, and those worrying numbers are trending back down. 

But is the story as simple as that? 

One security expert says the data isn't perfect, and a post-Covid retail crime wave may have been overstated. 

Nicholas Dynon is a security risk consultant and chief editor of NZ Security Magazine, a director at Optic Security.

He joins Emile Donovan.

8:30 Midweek Mediawatch

Colin Peacock joins Emile Donovan to debrief the week in media news.

Tonight, the background to the now infamous Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor photo, why the Prime Minister is copping some flak on social media and a strong radio performance lifts the result of media company NZME.

9:06 Nights Riddle

Tune in throughout the night for a series of riddle clues.

Be the first to text in the right answer and win a Nights mug.

Text 2101 or email nights@rnz.co.nz

Clue#1

I am all around you - in your house, in your car, at your work, at your gym, at the airport - but I am seldom noticed, barring catastrophe. I raise your awareness, I broaden your horizons, I give you knowledge of the great and glorious world we all live in. 

Clue#2

Were it not for me, the world would be bleak - or behind bars. I have a previous life: as the dinosaurs and mammoths came and went there I lay, one of many, absorbing the elements. I am access, I am protection - I am a test of your perspective.  

Clue#3

I am fragile - especially regarding jaws, ankles, and cannons. I can be seen at a pub - in my noun form, and more rarely in my verb form - though if that happens, I’d make tracks, if I were you. 

Answer: Glass

9:10 Do e-scooters belong in cycle lanes?

If you answered 'no', to that question then brace for impact, because the government is proposing a fleet of 'common sense' transport policies, and one of them is saying once and for all, it is A-OK for e-scooter riders to ride in dedicated cycle lanes.

That proposal is now open for submissions from the public.

Tim Welch is a transport expert, a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland and he joins Emile Donovan.

9:25 'Yeah-nah': Sociolinguist, Julia de Bres on the classic kiwi phrase 

It's our monthly chat with Nights' resident sociolinguist, associate professor Julia de Bres.

After a recent discussion about distinctively New Zealand words, Julie takes a deep dive into the classic 'yeah-nah'

9:30 European correspondent Christian Smith

Christian Smith joins Nights with news from the other side of the world.

Tonight - the big Gorton and Denton by-election is tomorrow – can Labour/Starmer cling on, the latest in the Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrest and a beef between French government and the US ambassador to France.

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

Tonight on The Detail - For the past decade, Sunny Kaushal has been a man on a mission to crack down on retail crime, and he's one step closer to getting his way

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10:45 The Reading: Goneville  Episode 9

Goneville is a rock'n'roll coming of age story by Nick Bollinger, who was just 18 when he went on the road with the band Rough Justice and its smoky-voiced, charismatic leader Rick Bryant. 

In the reading today, the constant touring, lack of income and general grind of life on the road begins to take its toll on Nick and the other band members. Here is episode nine of Goneville written and read by Nick Bollinger

11:07 Pocket Edition: Enzology

Split Enz are reuniting for the first time since their one-off concert in 2009, and to mark the occasion in the lead up to their headline performance at Electric Avenue, RNZ Music presents Enzology - The Story of Split Enz, produced and presented by Jeremy Ansell. 

Tonight, the final episode, See Ya 'Round.