Nights for Monday 25 August 2025

8:15 Should house prices increase, forever?

Prime minister Christopher Luxon told RNZ this morning that he wants to see "modest" and "consistent" house price increases.

It's a thought that should excite homeowners, but may leave aspiring homeowners feeling despondent. 

Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan joins Emile Donovan to discuss.

8:30 How to hold your breath for half an hour

A Croatian diver has set the world record for the longest time holding his breath underwater: 29 minutes.

Our own world-leading freediver Kathryn Nevatt joins Emile Donovan to share some top tips for holding one's breath.

8:35 Sports with Jamie Wall

RNZ sports whiz Jamie Wall joins Emile Donovan to discuss a mighty week in sport, including the All Blacks' historic loss to Los Pumas on Argentinian soil, the Black Ferns victorious scuffle against Spain in the Women's Rugby World Cup, and checking in on the Enhanced Games.

8:50 BBC World Service Lookahead with Pete Ross

BBC World Service reporter Pete Ross joins Emile Donovan to look at some of the events making headlines internationally, including an IPC report into famine in Gaza, a regional leaders summit in China, a petition to remove the suspended prime minister of Thailand from office, and a global gatherings of redheads in the Netherlands.

9:05 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.

9:25 The 'slow quakes' happening beneath our feet

Researchers are hailing a major international study into 'slow earthquakes' off the east coast of New Zealand as a breakthrough in their understanding of why and how their occur.

Published in research journal, Science Advances, it's hoped the results will help improve earthquake and tsunami warnings.

Doctor Philip Barnes is a principal scientist at Earth Sciences New Zealand -- formerly known as NIWA and he joins Emile Donovan.

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: When protecting us from the evils of the internet backfires

When it comes to making the internet safer for children and better for society, the devil is in the detail - and those details are often overlooked. Connor McLay reports.

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10:45 The Reading

Jason Whyte reads the first episode of 'Rocking Horse Road' by Carl Nixon.

After her violent death on the beach at the end of Rocking Horse Road, Lucy Asher takes on the status of a deity for a group of boys in the school. 

Their collective imagination makes her into something apart, special and almost because of her very unassailability, a goddess.  As her high priests they must revenge her murder.

11:07 Nashville Babylon

Every week on Nashville Babylon Mark Rogers presents the very best in country, soul and rock 'n' roll.

On this week's show there's blues from Stevie Ray Vaughn and BB King, soul courtesy of Isaac Hayes and Ruth Brown, reggae from Junior Dell plus an all time classic from Creedence Clearwater Revival.