Nights for Tuesday 10 February 2026

8:10 Why is the Christchurch mosque shooter back in court?

If you've been listening to the news and reading the headlines this week, you'll know that the Christchurch mosque shooter is back in court right now.

He is seeking leave to appeal his conviction and withdraw his guilty pleas which he made in 2020. 

He's currently serving life, without parole, for the murder of fifty-one people. 

So why is he back before the court at all?

Public law expert professor Andrew Geddis from the University of Otago joins Emile Donovan.

8:25 The House

Tonight on our Parliament show – The House – Phil Smith listens to Question Time and can hear November's election coming already.  

8:30 Reversing the flow on toilet inequity

If you've ever had to stand in a queue to use the toilet at a concert, sporting event or public building, you may have experienced toilet inequity.

While the men's toilet queue appears to flow freely, as it were - the queue for the women's toilet can be the opposite.

It's an issue which has been highlighted this week in a column by RNZ contributor, Niki Bezzant.

So why is this, and can anything be done to improve this inequality?

Daniel Thompson is an architect with Warren and Mahoney and the co-author of a New Zealand Institute of Architects Practice Note Beyond the Binary Bathroom: A Guide for All-Gender Bathroom Facilities.

He joins Emile Donovan.

8:40 Shower Thoughts: Why are UV levels so high in Australasia?

Tonight, we want to know why people in New Zealand and Australia are more exposed to sunburn than the rest of the world.

Ben Liley is an atmospheric scientist at Earth Science's Lauder research station, where they have researched UV radiation for over 35 years. 

He joins Emile Donovan.

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.

For each question answered correctly, a quizzee gets their name put in the draw for the weekly prize: the coveted Nights mug.

9:25 The death of paperbacks 

Mass market paperbacks used to be the most popular reading format in the world, with hundreds of millions of copies sold in their hay day of the sixties through to the eighties. 

Last year one of the largest US distributors announced it was stopping distributing them. 

Esther Margolis is the founder and publisher of Newmarket Books in New York, with a long career in selling books, including as a senior executive at Bantam Books, one of America's major publishing houses.

She spoke to Emile Donovan from her home in New York.

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.

Follow this podcast

10:17 The Detail

From boom to brake - we look at what went wrong for EVs in New Zealand, and what needs to happen to get the spark back

Follow this podcast

10:45 The Reading

For elderly Muriel, a simple journey into town to complete some tasks becomes a journey of self-discovery.

Dra McKay reads 'The Bank of Heaven', a short story by Christine Johnston. 

11:07 Worlds of Music

Trevor Reekie hosts a weekly music programme celebrating an eclectic mix of trans global music, fusion and folk roots.