CoveragePost
May 21, 2026
By Niva Chittock, RNZ WorldWatch presenter/producer New Zealand has joined international condemnation of Israel’s far-right national security minister, even summoning the Israeli ambassador to convey that message. A video posted by Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, showing him taunting detained flotilla activists, drew international condemnation on Thursday. The video showed kneeling activists, with their ... <a title="Peters condemns Israeli minister over flotilla video as 3 Kiwis detained" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/21/peters-condemns-israeli-minister-over-flotilla-video-as-3-kiwis-detained/" aria-label="Read more about Peters condemns Israeli minister over flotilla video as 3 Kiwis detained">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 21, 2026
Asia Pacific Report Irish President Catherine Connolly’s sister is among the Gaza-bound Global Sumud flotilla activists detained by Israeli forces, reports Middle East Monitor. Dr Margaret Connolly was among at least six Irish citizens aboard the aid flotilla detained by Israel, the Irish Independent reported, citing activists. At least two New Zealanders — Hāhona Ormsby ... <a title="Irish president’s sister, 2 Kiwis among Gaza flotilla activists detained by Israel" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/21/irish-presidents-sister-2-kiwis-among-gaza-flotilla-activists-detained-by-israel/" aria-label="Read more about Irish president’s sister, 2 Kiwis among Gaza flotilla activists detained by Israel">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 21, 2026
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk The French Senate has endorsed proposed changes to New Caledonia’s restricted electoral roll to allow “native” people to vote in next month’s local elections. The proposed changes relax current vote restrictions enforced under the Nouméa Accord, signed in 1998, a situation often referred to as the ... <a title="French Senate endorses change to New Caledonia’s ‘frozen’ electoral roll" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/21/french-senate-endorses-change-to-new-caledonias-frozen-electoral-roll/" aria-label="Read more about French Senate endorses change to New Caledonia’s ‘frozen’ electoral roll">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 21, 2026
By Kaya Selby, RNZ Pacific journalist A multinational police investigation implicating 11 Fiji police officers in collusion with drug traffickers has been handed over to prosecutors. The Fiji police announced that the investigation, lasting nearly six months, now awaits advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on how to proceed. On December 1 last ... <a title="Eleven Fiji police officers investigated for ties to Auckland drug trade links" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/21/eleven-fiji-police-officers-investigated-for-ties-to-auckland-drug-trade-links/" aria-label="Read more about Eleven Fiji police officers investigated for ties to Auckland drug trade links">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 21, 2026
Asia Pacific Report New Zealand needs to summon Israeli ambassador to protest over the illegal and brutal treatment of Global Sumud Flotilla humanitarian aid activists — including three New Zealanders — kidnapped in international waters this week. Peace activists are demanding this in the response to Israel ambassadors being summoned by several host governments over ... <a title="Peace Action demands NZ summon Israeli ambassador over brutal action against activists" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/21/peace-action-demands-nz-summon-israeli-ambassador-over-brutal-action-against-activists/" aria-label="Read more about Peace Action demands NZ summon Israeli ambassador over brutal action against activists">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 21, 2026
Asia Pacific Report At least 87 people kidnapped by Israeli forces from a humanitarian aid flotilla bound for Gaza have begun a hunger strike, say organisers, after Israeli forces intercepted the last remaining vessel in international waters. The group is striking “in protest of their illegal abduction and in solidarity with the over 9500 Palestinian ... <a title="87+ Gaza aid flotilla activists abducted by Israel now on hunger strike" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/21/87-gaza-aid-flotilla-activists-abducted-by-israel-now-on-hunger-strike/" aria-label="Read more about 87+ Gaza aid flotilla activists abducted by Israel now on hunger strike">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 20, 2026
Asia Pacific Report The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) has called on the New Zealand government to resolve a tenancy controversy over the Israeli embassy — by expelling the ambassador and staff. Noting the world pariah status of the country after the International Criminal Court (ICC) has reportedly sought arrest warrants for war crimes against ... <a title="Solve ‘genocide embassy’ issue – expel Israeli ambassador, says PSNA" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/20/solve-genocide-embassy-issue-expel-israeli-ambassador-says-psna/" aria-label="Read more about Solve ‘genocide embassy’ issue – expel Israeli ambassador, says PSNA">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 20, 2026
Asia Pacific Report Three New Zealanders are being illegally held hostage by the Israeli military after security forces boarded more than 50 boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying humanitarian aid bound for the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza. They have been named by the flotilla Aotearoa delegation as Mousa Taher, turning 39 next week; ... <a title="Family pleas for kidnapped 3 Kiwis as Gaza flotilla demands global activists’ freedom from Israel" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/20/family-pleas-for-kidnapped-3-kiwis-as-gaza-flotilla-demands-global-activists-freedom-from-israel-2/" aria-label="Read more about Family pleas for kidnapped 3 Kiwis as Gaza flotilla demands global activists’ freedom from Israel">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 18, 2026
COMMENTARY: By Kathrine Ross What a blast at the Auckland Writers Festival today, I had tickets for Marika and I to attend Palestinian writer Tareq Baconi’s talk and decided to dress up and wear my Palestine-flag-dress. Little did I know the stir it would cause — the Aotea Centre security literally chased me through the ... <a title="Palestine on patrol – how a flag-dress caused a writers’ stir for justice" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/18/palestine-on-patrol-how-a-flag-dress-caused-a-writers-stir-for-justice/" aria-label="Read more about Palestine on patrol – how a flag-dress caused a writers’ stir for justice">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 17, 2026
ANALYSIS: By David Robie, Pacific Media Watch When the Paris-based global watchdog Reporters Without Borders released their annual World Press Freedom Index dossier online three days before World Press Freedom Day, journalists in the Asia-Pacific region were quick to check out their ranking. Overall the prognosis wasn’t very flattering. No country in the region was ... <a title="Improvements in Pacific media freedom, but a shameful silence on Gaza ‘death trap’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/17/improvements-in-pacific-media-freedom-but-a-shameful-silence-on-gaza-death-trap/" aria-label="Read more about Improvements in Pacific media freedom, but a shameful silence on Gaza ‘death trap’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 16, 2026
Asia Pacific Report The Palestine Forum of New Zealand has criticised plans for the country taking part in next month’s military exercises with Israel and the United States, saying Wellington must not be seen aligning militarily with a state “facing serious allegations of war crimes and genocide before international legal institutions”. In a statement today, ... <a title="Palestine Forum slams NZDF share in military exercises with ‘genocidal’ Israel" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/16/palestine-forum-slams-nzdf-share-in-military-exercises-with-genocidal-israel/" aria-label="Read more about Palestine Forum slams NZDF share in military exercises with ‘genocidal’ Israel">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 16, 2026
COMMENTARY: By Frances Palmer While appreciating certain points in Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s speech “Securing NZ’s Future in a more Volatile World” on current challenges to international law, enshrined “rules” and “order”, we must take a hard look at the solutions he offers to enhance security. Security now clearly is shaped in a global context. ... <a title="Defending NZ values in a volatile world – but in what kind of a world?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/16/defending-nz-values-in-a-volatile-world-but-in-what-kind-of-a-world/" aria-label="Read more about Defending NZ values in a volatile world – but in what kind of a world?">Read more</a>
