ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on August 19, 2026.
‘On another scale’ – PNG province unprepared for El Niño impacts, warns governor
RNZ Pacific The governor of Papua New Guinea’s Western Highlands Province says his province is unprepared to deal with the severe impacts of the El Niño weather event being experienced across the country. During an El Niño event, warmer ocean waters affect rainfall and wind patterns, often bringing drier-than-usual conditions and a higher risk of
One Nation wants to cut the tobacco tax. Would that curb the illicit cigarette market?
A 75% cut in tobacco tax won’t make cigarettes as cheap as you might think. Here’s what really helps smokers in a cost of living crisis.
Microfinance was supposed to save Asia’s poor. Why has it failed to live up to its promise?
For the poorest households in Asia, even small loans can lead to expensive debt traps.
Parasite linked to ‘mushy fish’ could be much more widespread than thought
Ordered kingfish sashimi recently? A parasite can infect some fish, yet they still look and taste the same when raw.
Offloading work tasks to AI comes with a cost – to our brains
We risk replacing genuine knowledge with “work slop”.
The emerging threat of violent, exploitative digital ‘com networks’: what do we need to know?
Perpetrators gradually build trust with young people before pressuring them to harm pets, siblings, or themselves.
During eruptions, misinformation can spread further than ash. How can we spot it?
From scary headlines to recycled eruption videos, new research reveals how common misconceptions can fuel misinformation about volcanoes.
Pacific humanitarian workers face major logistical and access challenges, says World Vision
RNZ Pacific reporters Access remains the biggest challenge for humanitarian workers in the Pacific Islands region, but humanitarians are not targeted as they are in other parts of the world, according to World Vision. To mark World Humanitarian Day, World Vision, an international Christian humanitarian and development organisation, is highlighting the unprecedented risks faced by
An ‘AI legal team’ has won its first case. It’s a rare win for access to justice
A recent ruling suggests that if used well, AI offers an opportunity to improve access to justice. Courts and tribunals will have to perform a careful balancing act.
Extreme heat is altering when, where and how we travel: new research
Australians love a holiday, but are increasingly making travel plans around unpredictable weather.
Why it might be time to rethink the human family tree
The way we classify humanity’s ancient relatives is a mess. But there’s a simple fix.
Does ‘AI-watermarking’ mean the party is over for cheating students?
If this new development – designed to show if a text is AI-generated – sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is.
Cannabis isn’t ‘safer’ in your 20s and 30s – it’s linked to an earlier onset of psychosis
A new study showed that for people who were susceptible to psychosis, cannabis use in their 30s was associated with an earlier onset of psychosis by 6.3 years.
The art of the match cut: how filmmakers make impossible transitions feel effortless
You may have never consciously noticed a match cut before, yet this simple editing technique completely transforms how we experience a film.
The Opportunity Party’s Treaty policy is closer to Labour than National. But is it a bottom line?
If the Opportunity Party holds the balance of power after the election, its ‘honouring te Tiriti’ policy could be a deal maker – or breaker.
Students need more than AI skills — they need accountable AI literacy
Beyond technical fluency, Canadian students need judgment to decide how to use AI and when it should not be used at all.
Canada’s AI strategy needs educators who feel prepared, not just trained
A survey and workshop project is designed to help educators reflect on their comfort with genAI, assessment and educational practices and their fears and challenges.
A-level results: why politics is the fastest growing subject
Young people are not disengaged from politics but increasingly interested in understanding it.
Working from home should be a right, not a reward
An Australian state is set to introduce a law supporting the right to work from home, and it’s already in place for some parents in Portugal. Should it happen elsewhere?
Can Britain’s railways cope with ever-more extreme heat? An expert Q&A
Heatwaves can cause tracks to buckle, forcing speed restrictions or closures. An engineering expert explains how railways can adapt to a hotter climate.