ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on March 20, 2026.
I’m a kidney surgeon. Here’s why I hope I never see you
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Dat, Consultant Urological Surgeon and Adjunct Lecturer, Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University As a urological surgeon, I meet many patients with chronic (long-term) kidney disease. Sometimes, I see patients that have progressed to the point where their kidneys do not work at
Labor set for landslide in final South Australian polls with One Nation ahead of Liberals
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The South Australian state election is Saturday, with polls closing at 6:30pm AEDT. The 47 lower house seats will be elected in single-member electorates using preferential voting.
Bacterial meningitis is deadly, but can also have life-altering long-term effects – new study
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Octavia Calder-Dawe, Lecturer in Health Psychology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Bacterial meningitis is once again in global headlines, with recent cases linked to the University of Otago in New Zealand and a fast-growing outbreak at the University of Kent in England. Bacterial meningitis
Many tourism hotspots are ‘de-marketing’ – with mixed success. We researched the smartest ways to do it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Hardy, Adjunct professor, Tourism, Southern Cross University Those who watched the recent Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics probably placed Italy high on their travel bucket lists. Global events frequently generate abrupt spikes in visitor demand. This is a boon for many tourism operators and business
Keith Rankin Analysis – Turkmenistan: The Hermit Autocracy in the Centre of Eurasia
Analysis by Keith Rankin, 17 March 2026. Iran is a crucial country in Southwest Asia. Not only is it strategically placed with respect to maritime transport, it also has land borders with seven countries. Most of these countries have been in the world news in the last decade, generally in relation to some conflict or
Why Iran is attacking Gulf energy infrastructure
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Powell, Teaching Fellow in Strategic and Air Power Studies, University of Portsmouth Iran targeted energy facilities across the Middle East on March 18, including the world’s largest liquefied natural gas hub in Qatar, in retaliation for Israeli strikes on an Iranian gas field hours earlier. Iran
Why drawing eyes on food packaging could stop seagulls stealing your chips
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Kelley, Associate Professor, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter The increasingly urban lifestyles of seagulls in the UK and around Europe has made them experts at grabbing food from unsuspecting outdoor diners. Herring gulls in particular are gaining a reputation for food theft in
Return of the oil shock: lessons from a crisis New Zealand has seen before
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Basil Sharp, Professor of Energy Economics, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau The world’s energy situation is growing more volatile by the day. The US-Israel war on Iran has effectively shut one of the world’s most important oil choke points, the Strait of Hormuz, sending the price
What does One Nation actually believe in?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kurt Sengul, Research fellow, Far-Right Communication, Macquarie University One Nation’s unprecedented surge in the polls raises important questions about whether a party built on grievance can present coherent policies to voters. While a Pauline Hanson-led federal government remains highly unlikely, One Nation now sees itself as a
Indigenous Australians always come off worst in disasters. This needs to stop
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bhiamie Williamson, Research Fellow in Disaster Resilience, Monash University Indigenous communities are often the worst hit when major disasters strike. The recent floods across the Northern Territory are a case in point. Last week, residents in the regional centre of Katherine were either evacuated or sought shelter
Some kids stop swimming lessons too early. How well can your child actually swim?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hannah Graefe, Adjunct Research Fellow, Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University As the weather starts to cool down and outdoor pools shut, are you thinking of pressing pause on your child’s swimming lessons, or even stopping altogether? If your child has reached a certain level,
Fines alone won’t stop big tech behaving badly. Here’s what might work
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lauren C. Hall, PhD Candidate in Psychology, University of Tasmania As countries around the world look to follow Australia’s lead and implement a social media ban for kids, many are also considering fines as an enforcement mechanism. This is part of the playbook when it comes to
What is Flumist, the new flu vaccine for kids that’s sprayed in their noses?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Allen Cheng, Professor of Infectious Diseases, Monash University Many kids are scared of getting needles, and this can stop them getting vaccinations that protect that against the flu. Less than one in four Australian children were vaccinated against influenza in 2025. This winter, Australian families have another
How does your super balance compare to other people your age?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natalie Peng, Lecturer in Accounting, The University of Queensland If you have ever checked your super balance and wondered whether you are “behind” for your age, you aren’t alone. To see where you truly sit, you should ignore “averages”, which can be skewed by a small number
Shifting more healthcare to the private sector calls for a clear government plan – where is it?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robin Gauld, Executive Dean, Bond Business School, Bond University Access to public elective services such as hip replacements or cataract surgery has long been inadequate in New Zealand, with extended wait times and exclusion of those not assessed as high priority despite genuine clinical need. Workforce shortages
Seattle tried to guarantee higher pay for delivery drivers – here’s why it didn’t work as intended
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Garin, Associate Professor of Economics, Carnegie Mellon University If you’ve ever ordered food through DoorDash, Uber Eats or Instacart, you may have realized the person who delivers it isn’t a salaried employee. They’re gig workers – independent contractors who pick up delivery tasks through an app,
China’s growing grip on the fragile Solomon Islands media sector
SPECIAL REPORT: Reporters Without Borders Since the Solomon Islands established diplomatic relations with China in 2019, the Pacific country has become a strategic arena for Beijing’s influence. By capitalising on the economic fragility of the local media sector, China has stepped up conditional funding, editorial partnerships and influence programmes to disseminate its narratives. Reporters Without
Australian charities funding Israel’s illegal settlements ‘untouchable’, says Labor govt
The Labor government has told the Senate that Australian charities don’t have to comply with international law, nor will they be compelled. Michael West Media reports. SPECIAL REPORT: By Stephanie Tran The Albanese government has rejected a proposal to strip tax-deductible status from Australian charities found to be supporting illegal occupations, amid mounting scrutiny over
Grattan on Friday: Chalmers is trying to make economic uncertainty a springboard for reform
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra When he talks about the May 12 budget, Treasurer Jim Chalmers always stresses that what’s done on things like the capital gains tax discount will be a matter for cabinet. It would be more accurate to say the fate of
Heading to Bali, Vietnam or Thailand? Why a measles vaccine is more important than ever
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Niall Johnston, Conjoint Associate Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney If you’re planning an Easter holiday to Bali, Vietnam or Thailand, it’s a good time to check if you and your family are vaccinated against measles. These are among destinations in Southeast Asia with ongoing measles outbreaks,
