ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on September 18, 2026.
It’s getting easier to live off-grid – but it comes with certain costs
People who have extra funds, suitable homes and a desire to be self-sufficient may consider disconnecting from the grid.
The government’s migration policy prioritises knee-jerk politics over careful planning
The government’s migration policy announcement was long-awaited, but the contents ultimately fell short of expectations.
I love my skincare routine. Do I have a body image problem?
Spending time on skincare can be enjoyable, creative and soothing. But sometimes this self-care can be concerning. Could it be ‘cosmeticorexia’?
As AI reshapes jobs and workers change industries, employers need to be more flexible too
Most career changers rely on their networks to move to a new industry, new research shows.
Russia’s parliamentary elections will not be a referendum on the Ukraine war – or anything, really
Russia is convening its first national parliamentary elections since invading Ukraine, which offer a great deal of predictability but also some unexpected surprises.
We found the hidden force that created two chains of underwater volcanoes running side by side
A new study unearths the deep Earth connection between Lord Howe Island and its sibling chain of drowned volcanoes.
How rural policing gaps can make escaping domestic violence harder
Rural and regional areas bear a disproportionate burden of domestic violence. Distance, police staffing and station hours aren’t the only barriers to seeking help.
The International Olympic Committee wants mental health screening in elite sports. Here’s why
The mythology of the bullet-proof athlete often obscures the reality of elite sport’s mental toll.
‘We are very open’: Fiji’s tourism minister says HIV emergency should not deter visitors
RNZ Pacific reporters Fiji’s Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka says people travelling to the island for tourism purposes, such as from Australia and New Zealand, know that HIV is a “global phenomenon”. Gavoka, who is a Deputy Prime Minister, was responding to questions from local reporters about concerns from tourists who are worried about their travel
New Zealand will be ‘super-aged’ within a decade. Are our cities ready?
Most older New Zealanders live in private homes. As the population ages, making streets, transport and public spaces work for them will become crucial.
7 of the weirdest things coffee does to your body
Coffee doesn’t just make you feel more alert. Here’s what else happens when you drink a cuppa.
Making a claim at the Fair Work Commission? These are the new AI rules you need to follow
Trusting AI too blindly could end up costing you money – and see your legal case dismissed.
From war to weather, Australian farmers are planting spring crops in an uncertain world
Growers across the country are grappling with surging fuel prices and inconsistent rainfall.
What does a good data centre future look like? And how do we get there?
The decisions we make today will shape Australia’s future for decades.
Whyalla may make steel again one day. But years of uncertainty could still reshape the town
Whether steelmaking returns to Whyalla is only part of the story. The intervening years could have consequences of their own, and the community will need support.
Pirates were far more diverse than Blackbeard. And they didn’t say ‘arrr’, matey
Talk Like A Pirate Day is one of the internet’s favourite holidays. But who were these infamous seafarers and how did they really talk?
What happens when a neighbourhood bottle store closes? We asked local residents
As alcohol licensing laws face change, new research suggests closing individual outlets can bring noticeable benefits for nearby residents.
‘Mawachihitotaak:’ For Métis, it matters to say ‘let’s get together’ to share stories
There is a great need for ongoing authentic Métis voice, representation and expression of our unique cultural identity, and a Métis studies conference convenes people this September.
Houthi advance boosts Iran’s leverage over the US and Saudi Arabia – but may cost rebel group its legitimacy back in Yemen
Seizure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait complicates a widening conflict in the Persian Gulf. It also risks reigniting Yemen’s civil war.
Iran war pushes diesel – the economy’s lifeblood – to record high prices, with no relief on the horizon
The country, and the world, have been losing diesel refining capacity for many years and can’t just ramp up production to fill the shortages.