ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 14, 2026.
The government wants to save $463m by tightening disability support to school students. What’s going on?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Smith, Senior Lecturer of Wellbeing Science, The University of Melbourne The federal government has announced a new “safeguard” around how funding is spent to support school students with disabilities. The budget papers say there is an issue with “inaccurate claiming” by schools and new controls are … <a title="" class="read-more" href="" aria-label="Read more about ">Read more</a>
Crossbench senator Tammy Tyrrell joins government ranks, declaring she’s ‘proud to be a Labor girl’
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Senator Tammy Tyrrell, who started her parliamentary career as part of the Jacqui Lambie Network before turning independent, has now joined Labor. “I’m very proud to be a Labor girl,” she declared at a news conference with Prime Minister Anthony … <a title="" class="read-more" href="" aria-label="Read more about ">Read more</a>
Changing climate law to prevent civil cases removes a key protection for NZ citizens
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bjørn-Oliver Magsig, Senior Lecturer in Law, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington The government’s plan to change the law to bar claims for harms from greenhouse gas emissions shuts down New Zealand’s most important climate tort case, meaning it will never be decided on its … <a title="" class="read-more" href="" aria-label="Read more about ">Read more</a>
What is ‘cycle syncing’, and how might it affect menstruation?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emmalee Ford, Adjunct Lecturer, Sexual and Reproductive Health, University of Sydney Menstruation is once again a hot topic on social media, thanks to a new health trend known as “cycle syncing”. It involves aligning your diet and exercise habits to each phase of your menstrual cycle. For … <a title="" class="read-more" href="" aria-label="Read more about ">Read more</a>
Coles’ discounts misled shoppers, court rules. It could face hundreds of millions in fines
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jeannie Marie Paterson, Professor of Law (consumer protections and credit law), The University of Melbourne Coles has been found to have misled its supermarket customers over discounts – and could now face hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties. In a landmark case, Federal Court Justice Michael … <a title="" class="read-more" href="" aria-label="Read more about ">Read more</a>
The yips: when ‘choking’ in sport can go next level
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Mesagno, Associate Professor – Sport and Exercise Psychology, Victoria University Legendary 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus once stated golf was “90% mental and 10% physical”. That’s because unlike most other ball sports, a golfer spends most of the time thinking about their game instead of actually … <a title="" class="read-more" href="" aria-label="Read more about ">Read more</a>
A Coalition government would restrict access to welfare payments to Australian citizens
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Opposition Leader Angus Taylor says a Coalition government would restrict access to welfare benefits to Australian citizens. Taylor will include the controversial policy in his Thursday night budget reply. It will be seen as an obvious pitch to those voters … <a title="" class="read-more" href="" aria-label="Read more about ">Read more</a>
Two years after New Caledonia’s violent uprising, tensions remain high
ANALYSIS: By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk As New Caledonia marks the second anniversary of a spate of unrest and riots that broke out on 13 May 2024, the situation on the ground remains tense, on the political, economic and security levels. Politically, over the past two years, there have been sequences … <a title="" class="read-more" href="" aria-label="Read more about ">Read more</a>
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Jim Chalmers says ‘we’re in the cart’ for more tax relief
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Treasurer Jim Chalmers has declared “no other budget in the 2000s has set out this much responsible budget repair and this much economic reform.” Despite his claims, Tuesday night’s budget remains highly contentious – especially Labor abandoning its election commitments … <a title="" class="read-more" href="" aria-label="Read more about ">Read more</a>
Love, quest, adventure: the storytelling behind Xi Jinping’s speeches and China’s grand strategy
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mei Li, Lecturer in Strategic Public Relations, University of Sydney For many in the West, China still feels hard to fully understand. Public debate and media coverage too often focus on the “China threat”. Critics highlight the flaws of China’s political system and limits on freedom, yet … <a title="" class="read-more" href="" aria-label="Read more about ">Read more</a>
Papuan women ‘living in fear’ condemn military violence
By Aida Ulim in Jayapura Papuan women attending a free speech forum organised by the Dogiyai Student Association in Jayapura have condemned what they describe as ongoing violence against women and children in Papua. The gathering took place in the Lingkaran Abepura area, Abepura District, Jayapura, on Monday. Activist Vero Hubi said Papuan women continued … <a title="" class="read-more" href="" aria-label="Read more about ">Read more</a>
The federal budget will keep scientific research alive. But it’s unlikely to expand it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nathan Garland, Lecturer in Applied Mathematics and Physics, Griffith University In March, a major independent report commissioned by the federal government declared Australia’s research and innovation system was “broken”. The report, titled Ambitious Australia, recommended how to fix it. The 2026 federal budget gives us the first … <a title="" class="read-more" href="" aria-label="Read more about ">Read more</a>
If AI can translate instantly, why learn another language?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olivia Maurice, PhD, Cognitive Neuroscience, Western Sydney University; University of Sydney From live speech translation in video calls to auto-dubbing on TikTok, the technology to dissolve language barriers has arrived. Real-time translation powered by artificial intelligence (AI) is now embedded in everyday life. Tools from OpenAI, Meta, … <a title="" class="read-more" href="" aria-label="Read more about ">Read more</a>
Paramedics are facing more danger on the job. Here’s how to protect them
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Smith, Associate Professor, Paramedicine and Head of Department, Rural Allied Health, La Trobe University Paramedics face the threat of violence every day. Just this past month, two Victorian paramedics were assaulted. One was stabbed and another pregnant paramedic punched after saving a patient’s life. Authorities warn … <a title="" class="read-more" href="" aria-label="Read more about ">Read more</a>
The high-tech shipbuilding methods that helped Vikings dominate the seas
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Bennett, Associate Professor in Creative Writing and English Literature, Researcher in Old Norse Literature, Flinders University Images of the sleek keels, elegant planks, and dragon-headed prows of Viking longships have been reproduced countless times on postcards, book covers, souvenirs and in television shows and movies. These … <a title="" class="read-more" href="" aria-label="Read more about ">Read more</a>
From ‘French leave’ to ‘Irish goodbyes’: why you may be right to exit a party without saying goodbye
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Trudy Meehan, Lecturer, Centre for Positive Psychology and Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences Whether you call it an Irish goodbye, French leave or filer à l’anglaise (leave in the English style), as the French prefer, the act of quietly slipping out of a party … <a title="" class="read-more" href="" aria-label="Read more about ">Read more</a>
We tested the new World Cup ball – this is what you need to know about how it will fly, dip and swerve
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Eric Goff, Visiting Assistant Professor, Physics, University of Puget Sound Every four years, the men’s World Cup delivers some certainties. The pitch dimensions are tightly regulated, offside is signaled with a flag, and referees end the match with a blast of a whistle. But one key … <a title="" class="read-more" href="" aria-label="Read more about ">Read more</a>
What a list of Black Death survivors reveals about the way people recovered from plague
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Brown, Associate Professor of Medieval History, Durham University In our research in the British Library’s medieval collections, we have identified a previously unnoticed document that provides fresh insights into the survivors of the outbreak of plague known as the Black Death (1346–53). The document – a … <a title="" class="read-more" href="" aria-label="Read more about ">Read more</a>
As the definition of autism expands, are we losing sight of those with the greatest needs?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Whitehouse, Deputy Director, The Kids Research Institute Australia, Professor of Autism Research, The University of Western Australia Thinking about autism has evolved. Just three decades ago, autism was a relatively rare and clearly defined condition, diagnosed in people with limited verbal language and highly repetitive behaviour. … <a title="" class="read-more" href="" aria-label="Read more about ">Read more</a>
Despite some wins, this budget won’t transform regional Australia
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Beer, Executive Dean, UniSA Business, Adelaide University Since at least the early 1990s, much of regional Australia has felt overlooked by the rest of the country. Our regions have seen themselves as disadvantaged compared to other parts of the nation, ignored when new policies are being … <a title="" class="read-more" href="" aria-label="Read more about ">Read more</a>