CoveragePost
May 7, 2026
By Jamil Chade The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has condemned Israel, saying it has no right to detain Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila and demanding his “immediate and unconditional” release. In a statement on Tuesday, Thameen Al-Kheeta, spokesperson for the United Nations entity, said: “Israel must immediately and unconditionally release Saif Abukeshek and Thiago ... <a title="UN commissioner condemns Israeli kidnapping, detention of Brazilian flotilla activist" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/07/un-commissioner-condemns-israeli-kidnapping-detention-of-brazilian-flotilla-activist/" aria-label="Read more about UN commissioner condemns Israeli kidnapping, detention of Brazilian flotilla activist">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 6, 2026
COMMENTARY: By Chris Hedges Nothing illustrates the inversion of the international and moral order more than the genocide in Gaza and the shipment of tens of billions of dollars of weapons to Israel by Western nations — especially the United States — to sustain it. Part of this inversion is the unrelenting persecution of those ... <a title="Israel’s kidnapping of two important pro-Palestine global activists reaffirms persecution" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/06/israels-kidnapping-of-two-important-pro-palestine-global-activists-reaffirms-persecution/" aria-label="Read more about Israel’s kidnapping of two important pro-Palestine global activists reaffirms persecution">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 3, 2025
By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent Content warning: This story discusses rape and violence. Police in Papua New Guinea have arrested nine more men in connection with the rape and murder of a Port Moresby woman. The arrests, announced by Police Commissioner David Manning, follow a two-week investigation supported by forensic experts from the ... <a title="Nine more arrested in PNG for brutal kidnap, rape and murder of woman" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/03/03/nine-more-arrested-in-png-for-brutal-kidnap-rape-and-murder-of-woman/" aria-label="Read more about Nine more arrested in PNG for brutal kidnap, rape and murder of woman">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 20, 2024
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist Racism, torture and arbitrary arrests are some examples of discrimination indigenous Papuans have dealt with over the last 60 years from Indonesia, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch. The report, If It’s Not Racism, What Is It? Discrimination and other abuses against Papuans in Indonesia, said ... <a title="Discrimination faced by indigenous Papuans ‘isn’t something new’, says disturbing new rights report" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/09/20/discrimination-faced-by-indigenous-papuans-isnt-something-new-says-disturbing-new-rights-report/" aria-label="Read more about Discrimination faced by indigenous Papuans ‘isn’t something new’, says disturbing new rights report">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 6, 2024
RNZ Pacific The New Zealand government is again calling on the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) to release the kidnapped pilot Phillip Mehrtens. Tomorrow will mark one year since the 38-year-old New Zealander was taken hostage in Papua by independence fighters in the Nduga Regency province. Mehrtens was taken hostage a year ago on ... <a title="NZ govt seeks release of Kiwi hostage pilot Phillip Mehrtens in West Papua" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/02/06/nz-govt-seeks-release-of-kiwi-hostage-pilot-phillip-mehrtens-in-west-papua/" aria-label="Read more about NZ govt seeks release of Kiwi hostage pilot Phillip Mehrtens in West Papua">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 19, 2023
SPECIAL REPORT: By Yamin Kogoya Suspended Papua Governor Lukas Enembe, who is detained in Indonesia on corruption charges, was supposed to go on trial yesterday but this did not go ahead as he is gravely ill and could not attend. Upon realising the governor’s health had deteriorated, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) tried to transport ... <a title="Papua Governor Lukas Enembe gravely ill – KPK trial delayed" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/07/19/papua-governor-lukas-enembe-gravely-ill-kpk-trial-delayed/" aria-label="Read more about Papua Governor Lukas Enembe gravely ill – KPK trial delayed">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 3, 2023
RNZ Pacific A New Zealand professor and his two Papua New Guinean colleagues have been released from captivity, more than a week after being kidnapped by an armed gang. Archaeologist Professor Bryce Barker, who now lives in Australia and works with the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), was held alongside fellow members of his research ... <a title="‘Thank God’ says PM Marape in social media post about 3 freed hostages" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/03/thank-god-says-pm-marape-in-social-media-post-about-3-freed-hostages/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Thank God’ says PM Marape in social media post about 3 freed hostages">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 2, 2023
By Rebecca Kuku in Port Moresby The three local female researchers who were kidnapped with Australia-based New Zealand professor Bryce Barker are being kept in a safe house and banned from speaking to news media. According to their families, the women were being kept in an undisclosed location for their safety with their mobile phones ... <a title="K100,000 ransom paid for release of PNG hostages clarified as ‘third party’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/02/k100000-ransom-paid-for-release-of-png-hostages-clarified-as-third-party/" aria-label="Read more about K100,000 ransom paid for release of PNG hostages clarified as ‘third party’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 1, 2023
Jubi News in Jayapura The Papuan Church Council has called on the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) unit led by Egianus Kogoya to immediately release the New Zealand hostage pilot Philip Mehrtens. The council’s request was delivered during a press conference attended by Reverend Benny Giai as moderator and member Reverend Socratez Sofyan Yoman ... <a title="Papuan churches plea to rebel leader Egianus Kogoya to free NZ pilot" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/01/papuan-churches-plea-to-rebel-leader-egianus-kogoya-to-free-nz-pilot/" aria-label="Read more about Papuan churches plea to rebel leader Egianus Kogoya to free NZ pilot">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 1, 2023
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby The look on the faces of their families said it all, as they cried awaiting anxiously for their loved ones who made their way from the aircraft into the airport terminal at the capital Port Moresby. For the families of the last three Papua New Guinea hostage crisis captives, ... <a title="Nightmare over for final 3 PNG freed hostages – police hunt their captors" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/01/nightmare-over-for-final-3-png-freed-hostages-police-hunt-their-captors/" aria-label="Read more about Nightmare over for final 3 PNG freed hostages – police hunt their captors">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 26, 2023
RNZ News A New Zealand professor and his two Papua New Guinean colleagues have been released from captivity, more than a week after being kidnapped by an armed gang. Archaeologist Professor Bryce Barker, who now lives in Australia and works with the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), was held alongside fellow members of his research ... <a title="‘Thank God’ says PM Marape in tweet about 3 freed hostages" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/26/thank-god-says-pm-marape-in-tweet-about-3-freed-hostages/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Thank God’ says PM Marape in tweet about 3 freed hostages">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 25, 2023
By Rebecca Kuku in Port Moresby Prime Minister James Marape has urged armed captors to free the remaining four hostages which includes an Australian-based New Zealand professor, following the release of a local woman and three local guides. “These are citizens of our country and a friend of our country. Let’s settle this the Melanesian ... <a title="PNG’s Marape on the Mt Bosavi hostages: ‘Free them all’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/25/pngs-marape-on-the-mt-bosavi-hostages-free-them-all/" aria-label="Read more about PNG’s Marape on the Mt Bosavi hostages: ‘Free them all’">Read more</a>
