ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on September 30, 2026.
New Greens leader David Shoebridge declares Greens ‘here to replace’ Labor
Shoebridge at a post-ballot news conference focused on the Greens going after Labor, arguing it had left a vacuum by ‘rushing to the right’.
Australian electric car and bus sales soar – but trucks lag far behind
As hundreds of thousands more EVs hit Australian roads, is our charging infrastructure up to scratch?
After a decade, the UN’s Antonio Guterres is stepping down. His legacy will be mixed, at best
The long-standing UN secretary general could have done more to protect the world’s most vulnerable people.
Bushfire season is fast approaching. A new satellite tool can help communities better prepare
The tool can help communities better understand their local conditions and prepare for bushfires early.
Education Ministry inquiry the latest sign NZ’s Official Information Act isn’t working
Calls for an overhaul of New Zealand’s freedom-of-information rules have gone largely unheeded for years. But momentum for reform seems to be building.
Tragedy stopped Mawson exploring this remote Antarctic region. We must get there to study its melting ice
If all the ice in the Wilkes Subglacial Basin melted, it would raise global sea levels 3 to 4 metres. It happened before – at temperatures we’re heading towards
Canada’s Indigenous health obligations can’t be separated from rights and reconciliation
Commitments to Indigenous health research cannot be clawed back as part of proposed dismantling of equity, diversity and inclusion criteria for federal research funding.
The ‘War Games’ problem: Computer science has long understood what it takes to keep AI under control
A hit 1983 movie illustrates what computer scientists have long known: If you give an AI agent a goal but don’t control what it can and can’t do, you shouldn’t be surprised by what it does.
Government takes early action to protect ‘legacy’ technology systems against AI breaches
All government departments and agencies must conduct an immediate stocktake of their legacy systems, under the government order.
How sugar from outer space became one of the backbones of life on Earth
Ribose molecules came to Earth in meteorites and eventually became key parts of RNA. But how they survived in between has been a mystery.
Starship’s first orbital flight put its heat shield to the test – how it fares could determine if SpaceX’s vision is possible
Starship’s heat shield is made of up of an array of ceramic tiles. Each is a small component, but together they have large consequences.
Can governments ever convince women to have more babies? Here’s what other countries can teach us
Australia is on track to have more deaths than births by the 2060s. Other countries grapple with the same problem. Are they doing better than us?
Our research shows how AI is getting better at exams. Here’s how unis can respond
Three years ago, researchers tested AI on real Australian law exams and it struggled. They wanted to know if this is still the case.
As El Niño strengthens across the Pacific, Australian farmers could face fierce frosts
Papua New Guinea’s frost disaster suggests heat and drought aren’t the only symptoms of a changing climate.
Stage manager is arguably the most stressful job in live performance. Here’s why
In one research project, more than 93% of stage managers interviewed said they had ‘probably’ or ‘definitely’ experienced burnout.
Why monkeys handle conflicts better than we do
Among primates, reconciliation quickly follows conflict. Among humans, the ego gets in the way: protecting one’s image often takes precedence over repairing social bonds.
Ethiopia is sliding back toward war – a look at what is driving the fighting and why it matters
An offensive in the Tigray region followed months of aerial strikes by the Ethiopian government. The situation could spark a wider regional conflict.
If he wants to secure legitimacy for electoral reform, Andy Burnham must stick to these rules
Involving both the public and all parties in shaping reforms on how they vote will be crucial.
Low productivity is NZ’s economic elephant in the room. Election pledges mostly avoid it
Economic growth may have returned to NZ, but lifting living standards will require more than a cyclical recovery. What should voters be looking for in policies?
Burnham delivered honesty and emotion – but what about the promises? Our experts assess his plans
The prime minister wants fixing the crisis in social care to be the defining mission of his premiership.