ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 31, 2026.
Should I let my kids down that tube slide? How to weigh the benefits with the risk of injury
Tube slides aren’t like traditional playground slides. But children can still have fun without getting injured.
Bali’s traditional boats embody centuries of maritime tradition – but they’re quickly disappearing
Bali’s traditional elephant-fish canoes embody generations of craftsmanship, spiritual belief and maritime knowledge. But only a handful remain.
Data centres are power hungry – but they don’t have to be a burden on NZ’s grid
AI data centres are contentious for consuming large resources. But with the right incentives and regulation, can they make for more flexible electricity systems?
Forbidden Planet hit cinemas in 1956. Its warnings about AI should terrify us
Technology may give us extraordinary new power. But it may also give our deepest, least understood desires a power of their own.
Sam Altman says we’re ‘in the singularity’ with AI. Here’s why he’s wrong
The singularity has two features. The AI systems Sam Altman sells don’t deliver on either of them.
Sports venues are offering facial recognition to let people in. What are the risks?
When consumers provide consent for recording their facial data, they must fully know what they’re consenting to.
Samoa face World Rugby ban over PM’s ‘political madness’, opposition warns
By Margot Staunton of RNZ Pacific Samoa’s opposition leader Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi says the country faces suspension by World Rugby today because of “a dirty political move” by the government. Tuilaepa’s spoke to RNZ Pacific after the government announced that it was pulling its support of Lakapi Samoa due to “unresolved internal issues and division”
Fauci’s COVID-origins hearing shows how conspiracy theories became political weapons
Conspiracy theories don’t just explain events – they identify villains, and Fauci is among the most popular.
We revisited a forest experiment that lay forgotten for 30 years. What we found was astounding
There is no silver bullet for managing forests, but this study answers some historic questions.
Falls in whale sightings, rare seabirds appearing – is something unusual happening in the Southern Ocean?
Could marine heatwaves in the cold Southern Ocean be making animals and birds migrate? It’s possible – but we need better monitoring to know.
Wetlands are crucial food baskets for NZ’s native eels – new research
Wetlands are increasingly appreciated for their role in flood prevention and as carbon sinks. But they also act as a crucial food source for the wider catchment.
Defining a ‘normal’ country: Japan’s long struggle between pacifism and the threats of a new era
Japan’s leader says the country needs a stronger military. This has prompted deep reflection and fierce debate about the country’s post-war legacy.
Can pumping groundwater really flip Earth’s poles? An expert explains
An Australian politician says pumping groundwater might save Earth from ‘flipping the poles’. What’s she on about?
Is social housing policy failing NZ families trying to move from renting to home ownership?
New Zealand needs more social housing and affordable rentals, but also better pathways for working renters to become home owners.
Australia’s childcare safety changes are turning one. Are they working?
It has been a frightening time for Australian families, amid ongoing claims of abuse and neglect in childcare centres.
This history of currencies suggests the US dollar’s dominance may fade – but it will happen slowly
The US dollar is said to benefit from ‘exorbitant privilege’ in international trade. But history shows that may not last.
Ontario adjusted its return-to-office rules for FIFA World Cup traffic. Why are disability accommodations treated differently?
The province’s World Cup exemptions show that remote work can be accommodated when governments decide it matters.
Canada’s new food security strategy invests in technology but overlooks the people who help farmers use it
Ottawa’s $3-billion National Food Security Strategy funds greenhouses, food terminals and processing plants, but not the advisors who help farmers put any of it to work.
Wildfires, wombats and wake-up calls – what to read, rethink and act on this week
There is often a disconnect between coverage of acute emergencies and the long-term link with the climate crisis.
Why Andy Burnham is right to want for-profit firms out of social care
Any reforms which aim to make services work for people, not profits, must change who owns social care services.