ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on October 20, 2026.
Haines loses leg; alleged attacker posted about environment and Gaza
The independent MP remains in a critical condition after the incident on Monday afternoon. The alleged attacker has been identified as 43-year-old Brendan Nugent.
NZ’s next government will inherit a Treaty debate that is far from resolved
How much should Māori voices count in public life? And when does decisionmaking belong outside government and within Māori institutions?
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Ed Husic urges brakes on data centres ‘swamping’ Australia
The former industry minister said Australia is ‘going too fast’ and ‘been swamped by US tech’ building data centres here to dodge growing US community opposition.
AI reveals how a warming climate will intensify NZ’s most extreme downpours
By running hundreds of climate simulations much faster than conventional models, AI can deliver better regional projections of what communities need to prepare for.
Holding power accountable – a Pacific journalist’s journey through assaults and censorship
Exposing autocracy from military-ruled Fiji to democratic Samoa, journalist Shalveen Chand has faced cell blocks, state censorship and physical assaults for holding Pacific powers accountable. Now joining the Cook Islands News as senior journalist, Chand brings a relentless commitment to press freedom, warning that democracy collapses when watchdogs are silenced. COMMENTARY: By Shalveen Chand I
Honey bee hives have ‘living immune systems’ which defend against disease
Healthy honey bee colonies are remarkably good at keeping harmful microbes under control. A new study shows how they do it.
Many vapes and e-cigarettes are now banned in Pennsylvania – here’s what Philly consumers and businesses need to know
Vape products from only six manufacturers can now be sold in Pennsylvania.
Feral – and threatened? Endangered camels, banteng and hog deer have found an unexpected refuge in Australia
Wild dromedary herds no longer roam the Sahara, while wild banteng are vanishingly rare in Southeast Asia. Should we protect their feral populations in Australia?
Many Indigenous people now study and teach at Australian universities – but they are still excluded
Indigenous knowledges are still seen by many as peripheral to the dominant Western knowledge system.
Federal spending on climate change before 2024 election boosted incumbents of both parties
Incumbents can still reap electoral rewards when federal money reaches their districts, even if they opposed the bill that provided it.
Would subsidising weight loss drugs make health care fairer?
Those carrying the greatest burden of obesity and its complications may be among the least able to afford one of the most effective treatments now available.
Could the ban on card surcharges lead to a rise in tax evasion?
The new ban on card surcharges could have unintended consequences.
New AI shopping agents promise better bargains. But who pays the price?
As AI agents begin shopping on our behalf, there’s a real risk cheaper products could put more pressure on vulnerable workers in global supply chains.
From Ukraine to the Middle East: How drones and AI are rewriting the rules of modern warfare
While technology may set the boundaries of warfare, human choices ultimately determine how effective the technology is.
Sex toys aren’t just for fun. They can be adaptive tools for disabled and chronically ill people
Sex toys can help people whose sex lives have been changed by illness, disease or disability, move past traditional sex scripts.
Where does all the hardware go? The hidden environmental footprint of AI data centres
Canada’s new Responsible Data Centre Development Principles fail to address computer hardware alongside water and electricity usage.
Shortening Canadian teacher education risks devaluing the profession of teaching
Little evidence exists to support the argument that reducing the length of teacher education will increase teacher recruitment.
Tackling Lake Erie’s algal blooms requires targeted conservation strategies
Many of the excess nutrients causing algal blooms in Lake Erie come from nearby farms, and the challenge is keeping them out of waterways.
Kipper cream or fish in custard? A century of magazine recipes reveals how Britain’s seafood tastes have narrowed
Britain’s limited appetite for fish is often assumed to be a long-standing cultural norm. Recipes published in a Good Housekeeping suggest otherwise.
The 17th-century British scientists who investigated hauntings
The Royal Society was Britain’s principal scientific institution and some of its fellows were dabbling in the investigation of spirits.