Nights

We're joined by journalist David Farrier who chat's about the challenges faced by journalism in 2020 and the deep, dark corners of the internet he visits as part of his work.

Our Cultural Ambassador from the world of contemporary dance, director and choreographer Malia Johnston joins us once again. Tonight she's looking at composing for dance and is joined by two New Zealand composers, David Long and Anita Clarke.

Tamaki Makaurau's annual week-long festival celebrating Auckland visual arts and artists kicks off this Saturday and one of the many excellent exhibitions you can enjoy as part of it is a collection of visual poems by artist Tanu Gago - who also happens to be the co-founder of queer Pacific Arts Collective Fafswag, as well as a photographer, producer, film maker and queer activist.

Every week between now and the US presidential election, three experts in US politics, history and media from the University of Auckland, all from the USA but currently happily living here in New Zealand, will take us through the systems, the history and the precedents, and try to explain why things might be happening the way they are.

Auckland bars go to Level 1

Environmental historian and author Dr Catherine Knight has been examining the link between our wellbeing and nature in her new book She joins us to talk about treasuring the green spaces in our towns an cities.

RNZ Pacific's Vinnie Wylie is our sportscaster tonight.

Melody Thomas speaks to Intimacy Co-ordinator, Robbie Taylor Hunt. He's the person on a film set who makes sure that the intimate scenes are done well and keep everyone feeling safe. Like a stunt co-ordinator but for the intimate bits!

Donald Trump has tweeted that he and his wife Melania have tested positive for Covid 19, and are going into quarantine. For a brief reaction we speak with Dr Maria Armoudian, senior lecturer in politics and international relations at The University of Auckland. She's also the producer of our new podcast series, in association with The University of Auckland, The Americans which we're playing here on RNZ Nights every wednesday at 9pm in the lead up to the US presidential elections.

Duncan McGillivrary, Principal Investigator at the MacDiarmid Institute and Associate Professor in Chemical Sciences at the University of Auckland gives us his scientific take on Baakonite from Star Trek - a strong, reinforced metal used for traditional Klingon weaponry such as the bat'leth.