ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on August 22, 2025.
Keith Rankin Analysis – Equal Pay, Pay Equity, and Cost-of-Living Narratives
Analysis by Keith Rankin. This year, the heated non-debate in Aotearoa New Zealand about pay equity, has left important answers unquestioned. Equal Pay versus Pay Equity The first point that must be made is to distinguish ‘equal pay’ from ‘pay equity’. Equal pay means, for different identity groups, the same pay for the same work.
Eating disorder symptoms in teens can be traced back to family hardship, new study shows
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Houlihan, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, University of the Sunshine Coast Eugene Chystiakov/Unsplash Eating disorders can affect anybody, no matter their age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status or body size. Yet the myth that eating disorders are “diseases of affluence” persists, and can mean those from wealthier
Overseas bounties, patriotic education and suppression: how the national security law is changing Hong Kong
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ka Hang Wong, PhD candidate, University of Technology Sydney It’s been five years since Beijing imposed a harsh new national security law on Hong Kong. During this time, the law has fundamentally altered the city-state, prompting scores of pro-democracy leaders to flee overseas and instilling a climate
The US government wants to use the military against drug traffickers. History suggests this may backfire
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philip Johnson, Lecturer, College of Business, Government and Law, Flinders University In early August, US President Donald Trump signed a not-so-secretive order to make plans for the use of US military force against specific Latin American criminal organisations. The plans were acted upon this week. The US
After three days of talks, a fairer tax system is on the agenda. There’s no shortage of ideas
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Bartos, Professor of Economics, University of Canberra Day three of the government’s economic reform roundtable was about budget sustainability. It’s a slow burn issue. If the Australian government spends more than it raises in revenue, it has to finance the difference (the budget deficit) by borrowing.
The Cochrane library is a global source of independent health evidence for everyone – why is NZ restricting access?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vanessa Jordan, Associate Professor and Cochrane New Zealand Fellow, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images For almost two decades, all New Zealanders had free access to one of the world’s most trusted libraries on medical information. The Cochrane Library is known as the gold standard
NZ joins calls for urgent, independent foreign media access to Gaza
RNZ News New Zealand has joined more than two dozen other countries to call for “immediate and independent” foreign media access to Gaza. Earlier this month, an Israeli strike in the city killed six journalists — four Al Jazeera correspondents and cameramen, and two other media workers. The Israeli military admitted in a statement to
Israel is on notice for using sexual violence against Palestinians. It’s all too common as a war tactic
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peninah Kansiime, Lecturer in Social Work, Edith Cowan University Eyad Baba/Getty This article contains descriptions of sexual violence some readers may find distressing. Recently, the United Nations Chief warned Israel he had consistently noted “patterns of certain forms of sexual violence” perpetrated by Israeli armed forces against
Climate change is driving a silent, sinister change in Australia’s mountain ash forests
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Raphael Trouve, Senior Research Fellow in Forest Dynamics and Statistical Modelling, The University of Melbourne Tom Fairman Something silent and sinister is happening in Australia’s mountain ash forests. As temperatures rise, these ecosystems are slowly, steadily losing their trees – and with them, their ability to store
The ancient Greeks and Romans grappled with housing crises, too
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Konstantine Panegyres, Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History, The University of Western Australia The ruins of an ‘insula’ (a kind of apartment building) in the port town of Ostia near Rome. Dennis G. Jarvis/Wikimedia, CC BY-SA In many developed countries, the price of property has risen so
What’s a ‘black moon’? Here’s why it’s worth looking up at the sky this week
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Nicole Driessen, Postdoctoral Researcher in Radio Astronomy, University of Sydney Not a black moon. Jayanth Muppaneni/Unsplash There’s been a lot of buzz online about the August “black moon”, happening later this week. While you’ve probably heard of a “blue moon” before, this might be the first
Should I break up with my GP? 4 signs it may be time
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Louise Stone, Professor of General Practice, University of Adelaide sturti/Getty A long-term relationship with a GP – one who knows you and your history – improves your health and even reduces your chance of dying prematurely. This type of trusted relationship is particularly important if you have
Almost unimaginable beauty and opulence: the paradise pleasure gardens of ancient Persia
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Edwell, Associate Professor in Ancient History, Macquarie University Eram Garden in Iran. Sergey-73/Shutterstock Some of the most enduring ancient myths in the Persian world were centred around gardens of almost unimaginable beauty and opulence. The biblical Garden of Eden and the Epic of Gilgamesh’s Garden of
An attempt to lower NZ electricity prices could end up doing the opposite – here’s why
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Meade, Adjunct Associate Professor, Centre for Applied Energy Economics and Policy Research, Griffith University In its quest to lower electricity prices for New Zealand households, the Electricity Authority may inadvertently make the situation worse. This week, the authority announced plans to require New Zealand’s “gentailers” –
What is Kick, the platform that livestreamed a man’s death this week?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark R Johnson, Lecturer in Digital Cultures, University of Sydney The Conversation, CC BY Earlier this week, a Frenchman named Raphaël Graven died in his sleep during a livestreamed broadcast on the Kick platform. Known online as Jean Pormanove, the man appeared to have been subjected to
Grattan on Friday: a laundry basket of reform leaves a lot of washing to be done
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra As Jim Chalmers was navigating his economic reform roundtable, his colleague Mark Butler on Wednesday took a dive from the 10-metre board into the pool of budget repair. The announcement by Butler, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS),
Chalmers wins tail wind on tax reform from roundtable
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Government has obtained from its economic reform roundtable broad support to work on three major areas of tax reform. Treasurer Jim Chalmers told a news conference after the three-day meeting there had been several hours of debate about the future
Nuclear-free Pacific advocates speak out in NZ human rights radio show
Pacific Media Watch “Speak Up Kōrerotia” — a radio show centred on human rights issues — has featured a nuclear-free Pacific and other issues in this week’s show. Encouraging discussion on human rights issues in both Canterbury and New Zealand, Speak Up Kōrerotia offers a forum to provide a voice for affected communities. Engaging in
NZ is trailing its allies over Palestinian statehood – but there’s still time to show leadership
ANALYSIS: By Treasa Dunworth, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau It’s now more than a week since Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced his government had begun to formally consider New Zealand’s position on the recognition of a Palestinian state. That leaves two weeks until the UN General Assembly convenes on September 9, where it is
With eyes on re-election, Netanyahu’s fights with world leaders aim to distract from many political problems
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ran Porat, Affiliate Researcher, The Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation, Monash University As the longest-serving Israeli prime minister (17 years), Benjamin Netanyahu is famous for his political wizardry and survival skills. But he is also a highly controversial figure with questionable moral standards and legacy. His latest
