ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on August 18, 2026.
From Mel Gibson to Anthony LaPaglia: why Australian stages keep returning to Death of a Salesman
There have been more than 30 professional Australian productions of Death of a Salesman in 70 years. Now, Anthony LaPaglia steps into Willy Loman’s shoes.
Four months on, still no charges in death of man in Fiji military custody
RNZ Pacific reporters The Fiji Police Force has yet to charge any suspects four months after the alleged murder of the reportedly infamous Jone Vakarisi while he was in military custody. Vakarisi, 37, who was widely known for being on the wrong side of the law and reportedly linked to criminal networks, died on April
Boys are rarely taught to be caring. If they were, we could better prevent domestic violence
Rather than focusing only on what men should stop doing, we should also pay greater attention to the kinds of men we hope they become.
Bipartisan deal on gambling includes a review after three years
After striking an agreement with the opposition, the government agreed to somewhat toughen its original plan on the legislation.
Keith Rankin Analysis – Employed and Unemployed Labour in New Zealand from 1986 to 2026
Keith Rankin writes; … it is hard to get a firm measure of true unemployment; of the gap between labour supply and labour demand. A measure of untapped labour.
Conceptually, the best measure of unemployment is to subtract hours worked from hours offered, and then to get a percentage by dividing by hours offered.
The Taliban has brought Afghanistan close to collapse, but resistance is growing
Armed groups are challenging the group’s hold on power. Can they present a united front?
Democratic Party pledges ‘honest review’ after preliminary election wipeout in Cook Islands
By Rashneel Kumar, editor of the Cook Islands News Cook Islands’ Democratic Party leader Tina Pupuke-Browne has pledged an “honest campaign review” after preliminary results showed the party losing all its seats. Pupuke-Browne said the party will learn from its dismal 2026 general election performance, but added that it is “premature” to declare their final
Young men are ‘voicemaxxing’ to sound more attractive. But women aren’t impressed
Want a deeper voice to sound more ‘manly’? Why faking it might appeal to other men, but not women.
Retro smartphone accessories are trending, but ‘untethering’ isn’t for everyone
From corded handsets to lockable pouches, a new wave of products promises physical distance from our devices. But who gets to, and under what conditions?
The use of AI in biotechnology is changing faster than the rules governing either technology
The convergence of AI and biotechnology blurs boundaries and challenges existing regulations designed to consider technologies separately.
Galactic archaeologists find stars in the Milky Way came from another galaxy 12 billion years ago
The Milky Way contains a fossil record of galaxies it has absorbed.
From the coasts to the plains, bird flu could threaten not just birds – but their homes
From raucous honeyeaters to top predators, Australia’s birds are vital to nature.
Australian beekeepers can’t tackle Varroa mite alone. Here’s how we can help
The honeybee-killing Varroa mite is marching across the country, as two experts explain.
Australia must move up the AI ‘value chain’ to capture maximum value from the technology: Andrew Charlton
The assistant minister argues Australia needs to leverage its data centre advantage and translate that into benefits and growth for the broader economy.
With religious hostility surging in Australia, we need to rethink our approach to religious education
My research has found religious education can encourage critical thinking in children, instil kindness and tolerance, and help expand students’ worldviews.
Why a vote on taxing California’s billionaires is being watched around the world
A push in California to tax billionaires will be an important test of the political power of the rich – and the health of US democracy.
Oral exams are making a comeback to stop AI cheating. But they have their own problems
An oral exam can show how students have meaningfully engaged with a topic. But it shouldn’t be used as a litmus test for AI use.
4,000-year-old rock painting in Indonesia offers clues to one of humanity’s greatest migrations
The age of the rock art at Wetar means it could be one of the earliest places outside of Taiwan to document the Austronesian migration.
For Indigenous people, connection to Country can be a preventive health measure
When Indigenous people are displaced from or denied access to Country, measurable declines in mental health, physical health and emotional wellbeing follow.
NZ has spent years preparing for H5N1 bird flu. For some species, it may not be enough
With H5N1 now in New Zealand, protecting the most threatened birds will involve difficult decisions, careful prioritisation – and sometimes chance.