Nights

According to the somewhat hackneyed old saying, life begins at forty. Not for Joy France. For Joy , life took on a whole new meaning when she turned 60. Joy set herself a challenge and pledged to try sixty new things. One of those things was rap battling. She's now the world's oldest battle rapper.

Any parent will tell you it can be a battle to get the kids off the devices and into the outdoors. But for one Wellington family, turning the outdoors into a playful challenge has become something of a past-time. Over the past six months a group of young adventurers have bagged all of Wellington's playgrounds - over 100 in total. And not only that - but reviewed and ranked their features.

Australia's Albanese government is pouring millions of dollars into a new body charged with making the nation a 'music powerhouse' It's a lofty goal, but can 'Music Australia' really turn our neighbours into the next commercial hit-making capital? Our next guest David Ridler, who has intimate knowledge of our own music industry - and how it's funded - is sceptical. He joins Nights to discuss.

The huntaway holds a special place in not only in our hearts and minds, but also, in our economy. Now, close to $2 million is being invested into better understanding this somewhat mysterious breed - with a deep dive into the dog's DNA. Researchers at Massey University are embarking on a project to sequence its genome and finally answer that age-old question … where does it come from?

A proposal to restrict international drivers from a popular tourism highway in the South Island has been causing a bit of a stir. The Milford Opportunities project and the The Department of Conservation are looking for someone to carry out an assessment of the transport systems at Milford Sound. One of those options includes installing a permit system where New Zealanders can self-drive but international visitors must use a park and ride transport system. Joining Nights is the Fiordland community board chair Diane Holmes.

On October 10, 2013, Torbjørn "Thor" Pedersen left his job, girlfriend, and family behind in Denmark to embark on an incredible journey. His goal? To visit every country in the world in an unbroken journey without flying. Thor talks to Nights about his remarkable global journey.

A highly contagious and deadly bird flu is currently sweeping the world - so does New Zealand need to be better prepared for its potential arrival? While New Zealand is seen as being at a low risk of having bird flu arrive on our shores there is a concern the thousands of migratory birds which arrive here each year might bring it with them. Nigel French professor of infectious disease epidemiology and public health at Massey University joins Nights to explain what we can do to be better prepared.

Hayden Donnell hosts this week's Midweek Mediawatch and shares the latest news and happenings in New Zealand's media.

At the iconic fringe festival in Edinburgh the gong for funniest joke of 2023 has been handed out. This year's winner was comedian Lorna Rose Treen, whose gag was voted best by nearly half those responding. She joins Nights to tell us where she got the inspiration for the joke from.

A war is being waged in the back blocks of rural New Zealand - on wilding pines. Despite the valiant effort of many, many of our famous landscapes are at risk of disappearing. If left unchecked, over the next fifty years, 1.8 million hectares of the country could be covered in pine. But with funding dwindling, those on the frontline fear they're already losing hard-fought for ground to the invasive weed. Pete Oswald project manager of the Central Otago Wilding Control Group joins Nights to discuss.