Nights

Why do we remember certain aspects of the over others, and why does it matter? Those are the central questions behind a new book from historian, lecturer, and curator of the Auckland War museum Dr Rowan Light. "Why Memory Matters: Remembered histories and the politics of the past" is available now. Rowan Light joins us on Nights.

A search is on in Southland after a Great White Shark parted ways from it's monitoring tag somewhere of the coast of the Catlins. And the public is being asked to keep an eye out for the valuable piece of kit which provides scientists with valuable insights into the free roaming animal. Nikki Ladd from Shark Exeperience in Bluff talks to Mark Leishman about how the search is going and how "friendly" they are with the sharks down there.

Great news for fans of music journalism 13 years' worth of editions of Rip It Up - spanning 1986 to 1998 - are now available to read in full, thanks to a project from AudioCulture and Papers Past. Murray Cammick is one of the creators of the magazine, and was editor for much of this period - He joins Nights to reminisce about the history of the publication.

Subscribers to Sky Sport Now and Neon got a bit of a shock this morning when they found out their price for those streaming services was increasing. But it's not just the New Zealand services upping their prices, with the big players Netflix and Disney Plus also increasing their prices in the past year. Coupled with the rapid rise in the cost of living, could there be a mass exodous away from paid streaming services? Dan Slevin is Nights' resident tv and film critic and he talks to Mark Leishman about what this all might mean.

A study from the University of Auckland has found only about 2% of New Zealanders exclude all meat from their diets. Vegans make up only about .5% Previous estiamates have been as high as 20% Mark Leishman talks to the study's lead author Dr Kathryn Bradbury about why it's important we have an accuarate idea on the number of people who eat a strict plant based diet.

A new study from the University of Otago has highlighted the links between deforestation and the loss of biodiversity in New Zealand's rivers and streams. Comparing over 100 different freshwater sites in Otago and Southland, the study found key differences in the insect life in areas that had been deforested. Mark Leishman talks to the lead researcher Professor Jon Waters from the department of zoology at the University of Otago.

A Dunedin motorcycle mechanic is set to take on some of the best bike building enthusiasts in the world. Andy Martin and his custom built chopper have made the final of the Biltwell's People's Champ The annual competition is the show for up-and-comers, independent builders around the world. So to find out what went into creating the chopper Andy talks to Nights.

Together, the Grand Theft Auto games have raked in nearly 20-billion New Zealand dollars since 1997. The next instalment, GTA 6, is likely to be one of the most financially successful entertainment products of all time. It's so hotly anticipated it's trailer was leaked today. Oskar Howell is a video games and technology journalist and he talks to Mark Leishman about the hotly anticipated instalment.

Here's four words for you to ponder: Hallucinate; Authentic; A I and Rizz These four words have each been named the 2023 word of the year by different English dictionaries. So what do the words 'authentic' and 'hallucinate' tell us about where society is at in 2023? Joining Nights to find some meaning is University of Waikato linguist Andreea Calude.

From Rotorua's natural hot springs to the fresh mountain air of the Southern Alps, the health benefits of New Zealand's natural environment have often been part of our tourism attractions. Well with its picturesque golden beaches, enchanting hills, and lush green valleys the Coromandel is promoting itself as a region that's good for your health and soul. And they can back it up, with a research trial finding those who visited the region reported a decrease in stress and anxiety as well as an increase in relaxation and happiness. To find out about the Coromandel Cure and how the region is faring, Nights is joined by Destination Hauraki Coromandel general manager Hadley Dryden.