ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on October 30, 2026.
Looking for bats after dark can help science – and change how we see them
A new study into microbats used so-called bat detectors to help track them down.
Knocking on strangers’ doors? How to help your kids have a safe Halloween
Check costumes for trip hazards, or masks that obscure vision. And keep little kids within reach.
‘What we leave behind is not as important as how we’ve lived’: remembering actor Patrick Stewart
Passing away this week at 86, Stewart will be remembered as actor, dramaturge, Shakespearean exemplar, mutant professor, and distinguished Starfleet captain.
Mushroom murderer Erin Patterson has lost her appeal and received a harsher sentence. Legal experts explain why
The ‘mushroom murderer’ will spend the rest of her life behind bars after losing her appeal.
‘Uncontrolled warrior culture’: Australia’s special forces under fire in new inquiry
An inquiry into the culture and command of Australian special forces in Afghanistan could be a moment of reckoning for the country’s military leadership.
Spain’s high-speed train network is plagued by old signalling systems. They may have caused the deadly crash
The crash has killed 69 people, and injured scores more.
Buried cats, exorcisms and a sunken Colonel Sanders – the strange world of sporting curses
Why would fans of a Japanese baseball team throw a statue of Colonel Sanders into a local canal? Welcome to the world of sporting curses.
Former Kiribati president says Pacific Islands Forum-Israel partnership not ‘morally defensible’
By Johnny Blades of RNZ Pacific The chair of the Pacific Elders’ Voice (PEV) says the argument that religious affinity justifies the Pacific Islands Forum’s (PIF) partnership with Israel does not stack up. The Forum’s recent decision to make Israel a sectoral partner has drawn widespread criticism by civil society in the region, and is
Halloween is typically a massive lolly fest for kids – but it doesn’t have to be
Leave the pillowcase at home. Parents can try giving children a smaller bucket or bag to take trick-or-treating.
Labor came to power promising a big care agenda. Four years on, how has it fared?
The Albanese government has modelled a more caring and inclusive form of leadership, but it’s being reminded that vibes are easier to change than policy regimes.
Using ChatGPT before a medical appointment? How to get the best support for your health questions
Chatbot advice is readily available, is personalised and can be prompted for greater clarity. But it can also lead to serious patient harm.
Flying-foxes are turning up starving. Why are we still responding one crisis at a time?
Wildlife carers have been deluged with distressed flying-foxes. It’s yet another crisis for these vital animals. Is it time to do better?
A wise woman who turned fish eggs into beasts: meet an ancient witch from Mesopotamia
Ancient evidence tells us that belief in witchcraft – and feat of witches – is more than 4,000 years old.
The Black designers redefining British fashion by drawing on their own heritage, culture and history
The work of these designers offers a vivid picture of modern Britain, shaped by overlapping cultures, communities and histories.
After three years of relentless reform, what lies beyond the election for education?
Sweeping changes to the curriculum, NCEA and school governance have divided the education sector, all while major challenges remain overlooked.
How porn became so extreme – and how it’s shaping the sex lives of young people
Extreme pornography has become readily available on mainstream porn sites. Listen to expert Clare McGlynn on The Conversation Weekly on what this is doing to the sex lives of young people.
What if we paid for electricity through taxes, not bills?
Taxation is broadly progressive, while levies on energy bills hit poorest households hardest.
5 Ontario education unions hold strike votes as cuts squeeze classrooms
The current stall in negotiations follows the government’s indication that it wants greater control over negotiating issues such as staffing redundancies.
Is sexual objectification hard-wired? Our study used electrical brain stimulation to find out
Flipping photos upside down usually exposes a bias in how we see women’s bodies. A weak current to the forehead made it disappear.
Corruption in South Africa’s police force is rife: why protecting whistleblowers is vital
When the South African Police Service tolerates retaliation against ethical officers, it weakens the institutional integrity required to confront corruption.