ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on August 7, 2025.
Greenpeace condemns NZ’s ‘dodgy reforms’ plan weakening ocean protection
By Emma Page Greenpeace says moves to weaken ocean protection through dodgy fisheries “reforms” will be met with strong opposition, as Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announces he wants to proceed with a raft of proposed changes to fisheries laws. The controversial changes are some of the largest in decades, and would restrict public
NZ announces support package, new High Commission building in PNG
By Russell Palmer, RNZ News political reporter The prime minister has announced a new High Commission building in Papua New Guinea and an economic support package, as his trip to the country concludes on Wednesday. Christopher Luxon arrived on Monday for the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, and flew out of Port Moresby yesterday afternoon.
Climate-fuelled El Niño events are devastating butterflies, beetles and other tropical insects
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nigel Stork, Emeritus Professor in the Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University Insects are arguably the most important animals on the planet. Their variety is unparalleled in nature, and they carry out vital tasks such as pollinating plants and providing food for other animals.
Is Israel committing genocide in Gaza? We asked 5 legal and genocide experts how to interpret the violence
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Melanie O’Brien, Associate Professor in International Law, The University of Western Australia In January 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a provisional ruling in a case brought by South Africa against Israel, alleging genocide in Gaza. The court found Palestinians have a “plausible” right to
Why alcohol policies miss those at the highest risk from drinking
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Pennay, Senior Research Fellow and Deputy Director, Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University Elina Sazonova/Pexels People living in the most advantaged areas of Australia tend to drink more alcohol. But people who live in the least advantaged areas suffer the most alcohol-related harms, such
Butterflies, beetles and other tropical insects are being devastated by climate-fuelled El Niño events
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nigel Stork, Emeritus Professor in the Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University Insects are arguably the most important animals on the planet. Their variety is unparalleled in nature, and they carry out vital tasks such as pollinating plants and providing food for other animals.
Body rolls and headbanging: we found cockatoos have 30 different dance moves
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Raf Freire, Senior Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Charles Sturt University Sergei Ginak/Getty Companion cockatoos are renowned for their problem-solving and intriguing characters. It’s no surprise these large, long-lived and intelligent parrots are known to display complex behaviour. Owners often film their birds dancing to music
Big changes to NCEA and polytechs must deliver the skills NZ urgently needs
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Maurice-Takerei, Senior Lecturer in Education, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images This week’s major overhaul of the NCEA qualification system isn’t just about measuring academic achievement at secondary school. The government’s plans also include “working with industry to develop better vocational pathways” into the workforce. The
Australia has ministers for seniors and youth. So why not a minister for children?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Professor (Practice), Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University Natalia Lebedinskaia/ Getty Images Child safety and wellbeing is never far from the headlines, and no more so than recently, with shocking allegations of child sexual abuse in childcare centres. These revelations have sparked much-needed national
Tiny homes could help ease the housing crisis, but councils are dragging their feet
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Heather Shearer, Lecturer in GIS and Planning, Griffith University Australia’s housing affordability crisis shows no sign of easing. An average home price now exceeds A$1 million and a recent report found only a handful of rental properties nationwide are affordable for someone on government benefits. Vulnerable people
These jobs will thrive – but others may vanish – as AI transforms Australia’s workforce
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Janine Dixon, Director, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University The Commonwealth Bank of Australia made headlines when it announced last week it would cut 45 call centre jobs, thanks to the introduction of an AI chatbot. This only added fuel to ongoing speculation – and some alarmism
Still throwing shrimp on the barbie: why is Tourism Australia’s advertising stuck in 1984?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anita Manfreda, Senior Lecturer in Tourism, Torrens University Australia Tourism Australia Tourism Australia has just launched its latest global A$130m campaign, “Come and Say G’day”. It’s a sequel to the 2022 ad featuring brand ambassador Ruby the Roo. The ad is a feast of sweeping drone shots,
This stone tool is over 1 million years old. How did its maker get to Sulawesi without a boat?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Brumm, Professor of Archaeology, Griffith University A stone tool from 1.04 million year ago. M.W. Moore/University of New England Stone tools dating to at least 1.04 million years ago have been found on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. This means early hominins made a major sea
Embattled ASX set to face beefed-up competition, in bid to boost investment
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Australian Securities and Investments Commission is set to boost the competition faced by the much-criticised ASX in an effort to clear roadblocks for investors and attract more foreign capital to Australia. ASIC, which regulates companies and financial services, announced
As Trump lifts sanctions on Myanmar elites, is he eyeing the country’s rare earth reserves?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Simpson, Senior Lecturer, International Studies, University of South Australia The military junta that overthrew Myanmar’s democratically elected government in 2021 is preparing the ground for national elections in December and January. The junta’s hope is these deeply flawed elections would consolidate its power and provide it
Can music be good company? Research shows it makes our imagination more social
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steffen A. Herff, Leader of the Sydney Music, Mind, & Body Lab, University of Sydney Urbazon / Getty Images Earlier this year, we asked a group of older adults what music they listened to when feeling lonely, and why. We discovered music was a powerful coping mechanism
How many of Australia’s 2.2 million property investors would lose out under a new plan to curb negative gearing?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Martin Duck, Post-Doctoral Research Associate, University of Sydney The Australian Council of Trade Unions is pushing to limit negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts to just one investment property. So who stands to win or lose the most if it happens? And is the Albanese government
ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for August 6, 2025
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on August 6, 2025.
