Nights

The American diplomat and politician Henry Kissinger has died at the age of 100. The former secretary of state and national security advisor to Richard Nixon leaves behind a polarizing legacy. He had a hand in many significant events in the 20th century - from helping cool tensions during the Cold War, to integrating China into the international diplomatic community. He - controversially - shared the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts negotiating a ceasefire in the Vietnam War - though it didn't last. But he was also derided as a warmonger, and criticised for interfering in other countries' domestic affairs. The writer Christopher Hitchens, a fierce critic of Kissinger, once called for him to be prosecuted 'for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and offences against international law'. To discuss his legacy Stephen Hoadley an associate professor at Auckland University joins Mark Leishman.

When it comes to motorsports, as a nation we're punching way above our weight. We're just really good at it... Hailing from Auckland, Mitch Evens is a Formula E driver... That's E for electric. Last season he finished third... With the 2024 season fast approaching he's taking a break from practice to join us...

Someone who knows first hand life-saving impact an organ donation has is Amy Ng-Thomson.

After a long illness Amy was the recipient of a lung transplant in 2018. She joins Mark Leishman on Nights...

Julia Gatley is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland school of architecture where she leads the built heritage conservation programme. She's also the co-author of a new book Architectural Conservation in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, which comes out in December.

Hayden Donnell and Mark Leishman talk Kim Hill's last show, Winston Peters objections to the Public Interest Journalism Fund. and the New beginnings court.

A kiwi powerlifter has battled her way through adversity to smash a world record in her chosen sport.

At the weekend powerlifter Ashleigh Hoeta set a new world record for the bench-press Ashleigh bench-pressed 317.5kg, 20kg more than the previous world record, to take her place as the No 1 equipped female bencher in the world.

Winning and breaking records is nothing new for the 27-year old from Taranaki, she's also a champion arm wrestler and former gymnast.

Tom O'Connor is a former Maori affairs journalist turned author of historical fiction. His latest series the "Irish Convict" was released earlier today. The five books explore the history of pre-colonial irish settlers in Aotearoa. To explain exactly what historical fiction is, and fill us in on this relatively unknown part of our history Tom joins me now...

Whole pigs roasted in an earth oven have been a Chinese tradition since they first arrived to work the goldfields, over 100 year ago. In Palmerston North Rodney Wong rules the roast... Or at least he used to. In recent times the tradition has been dying out. Currently Rodney, who holds the title of Palmerston North's "Last Grand Pig Master" hasn't got an oven. There used to be over a dozen in the region, now there are just three, all inaccessible on private land... Rodney joins Mark Leishman to share the tradition, and his hopes for the future.

If there's one thing New Zealand seemingly loves ... it's a hotly-contested public vote for our favourite native species. Of course, this year's Bird of the Century competition was in the spotlight given the involvement and possible voter fraud committed by US talk show host John Oliver. But, over the next couple of weeks, a similarly bitter competition is unfolding online to decide our favourite native PLANT The Favourite Native Plant competition, is run by the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. The orgenisations president Jesse Bythell joins Mark.

Dr Eric Crampton is the chief economist at free-market think-tank the New Zealand Initiative, and a regular economic pundit on Nights. Tonight he joins Mark Leishman to explore some of the less-well cavassed aspects of the new Government's coalition agreements.