Nights for Thursday 29 January 2026
8:10 AI building tools come with risks
It's never been easier to design your dream home using AI-generated tools.
But a leading construction expert warns that New Zealand homeowners could be putting themselves at significant financial risk.
Reagan Langeveld, director of Symphony Construction and a Master Builders gold award winner, says these apps and shows oversimplify the building process.
They often overlook compliance rules, regional differences, and the practical challenges that make a renovation safe and achievable.
To talk more about this, Reagan speaks to Susana Lei'ataua.
[picture id="4L56OUP_DSC_8688_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]
8:25 The House
Louis Collins looks at what former Speaker of the House Adrian Rurawhe had to say in his valedictory speech.
8:30 Wētā FX put their mark on Stranger Things
In the midst of receiving Academy Award and BAFTA nominations for their work on Avatar: Fire and Ash, Wellington's own Wētā FX have been celebrating their work on the final season of global hit TV show Stranger Things.
Martin Hill was Wētā FX's VFX supervisor for the show and joins Susana Lei'ataua to discuss the work that went into making paranormal places and creatures come to life.
[picture id="4JU19T3_martin_hill_desktop_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]
8:50 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards longlist revealed
The 2026 longlist for The Ockham New Zealand Book Award was announced today, with familiar names like Dominic Hoey, Duncan Sarkies and Catherine Chidgey up for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction.
New Zealand Book Awards Trust chair Nicola Legat joins Susana Lei'ataua to go through the lists.
9:05 Nights Quiz
Do you know your stuff? Come on the air and be grilled by Susana Lei'ataua as she dons her 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. The person with the most correct answers at the end of the run goes in the draw for a weekly prize.
9:25 A new public work for Wellington
City Gallery Wellington is on the hunt for a crowning glory to sit atop its reclaimed site in Ngakau Square, inviting pitches from local artists for a large and striking scultpure installation.
The gallery's director Charlotte Davy joins Susana Lei'ataua.
[picture id="4KHGJCU_RNZD6016_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]
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.
[picture id="4L8VG2E_pacific_waves_banner_hero_2023_png" crop="original" layout="thumbnail"]
10:17 The Detail
New Zealander Khol Gillies was fighting in Ukraine when he was badly injured, and he spent days in a bunker waiting to be evacuated.
10:45 The Reading: Turaki Domain
Tex Rapley has played rugby against the very best in the finest stadiums of the world, but today he is turning out for the Waititi senior thirds, on the Turaki Domain, number two field, in front of thirty spectators and a dog.
11:07 The Mixtape: Tony Stamp
Kara Rickard sits down with the Music 101 producer to chat about his broadcasting history, learn more about his past, and hear six of his favourite songs.
It's never been easier to design your dream home using AI-generated tools.
But a leading construction expert warns that New Zealand homeowners could be putting themselves at significant financial risk.
Reagan Langeveld, director of Symphony Construction and a Master Builders gold award winner, says these apps and shows oversimplify the building process.
They often overlook compliance rules, regional differences, and the practical challenges that make a renovation safe and achievable.
To talk more about this, Reagan speaks to Susana Lei'ataua.
[picture id="4L56OUP_DSC_8688_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]
8:25 The House
Louis Collins looks at what former Speaker of the House Adrian Rurawhe had to say in his valedictory speech.
8:30 Wētā FX put their mark on Stranger Things
In the midst of receiving Academy Award and BAFTA nominations for their work on Avatar: Fire and Ash, Wellington's own Wētā FX have been celebrating their work on the final season of global hit TV show Stranger Things.
Martin Hill was Wētā FX's VFX supervisor for the show and joins Susana Lei'ataua to discuss the work that went into making paranormal places and creatures come to life.
[picture id="4JU19T3_martin_hill_desktop_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]
8:50 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards longlist revealed
The 2026 longlist for The Ockham New Zealand Book Award was announced today, with familiar names like Dominic Hoey, Duncan Sarkies and Catherine Chidgey up for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction.
New Zealand Book Awards Trust chair Nicola Legat joins Susana Lei'ataua to go through the lists.
9:05 Nights Quiz
Do you know your stuff? Come on the air and be grilled by Susana Lei'ataua as she dons her 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. The person with the most correct answers at the end of the run goes in the draw for a weekly prize.
9:25 A new public work for Wellington
City Gallery Wellington is on the hunt for a crowning glory to sit atop its reclaimed site in Ngakau Square, inviting pitches from local artists for a large and striking scultpure installation.
The gallery's director Charlotte Davy joins Susana Lei'ataua.
[picture id="4KHGJCU_RNZD6016_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]
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.
[picture id="4L8VG2E_pacific_waves_banner_hero_2023_png" crop="original" layout="thumbnail"]
10:17 The Detail
New Zealander Khol Gillies was fighting in Ukraine when he was badly injured, and he spent days in a bunker waiting to be evacuated.
10:45 The Reading: Turaki Domain
Tex Rapley has played rugby against the very best in the finest stadiums of the world, but today he is turning out for the Waititi senior thirds, on the Turaki Domain, number two field, in front of thirty spectators and a dog.
11:07 The Mixtape: Tony Stamp
Kara Rickard sits down with the Music 101 producer to chat about his broadcasting history, learn more about his past, and hear six of his favourite songs.
