Independent Analysis and Reportage
EVENING REPORT: On Friday August 20 the Reserve Bank of New Zealand governor Adrian Orr told Bloomberg that a fundamental imbalance in the New Zealand economy is a lack of supply within the residential housing market. But will a supply correction alone resolve New Zealand’s affordable housing crisis? Stephen Minto analyses this question.
FIRST PERSON: By Ben Strang, RNZ News reporter RNZ reporter Ben Strang was on the streets before the latest lockdown when he was attacked, and writes that it feels like there is more animosity towards the government and media this time around. Despite living largely free of restrictions in New Zealand compared to almost every ... <a title="Anger and misinformation about covid-19 in NZ a dangerous tumour" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/08/21/anger-and-misinformation-about-covid-19-in-nz-a-dangerous-tumour/" aria-label="Read more about Anger and misinformation about covid-19 in NZ a dangerous tumour">Read more</a>
In a statement, the Health Ministry said there were now 31 cases associated with the current Auckland community outbreak. “All cases have or are being transferred safely to a managed isolation facility, under strict infection prevention and control procedures, including the use of full PPE.” The ministry said the three in Wellington had recently travelled ... <a title="11 new covid cases in NZ community, including three in Wellington" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/08/20/11-new-covid-cases-in-nz-community-including-three-in-wellington/" aria-label="Read more about 11 new covid cases in NZ community, including three in Wellington">Read more</a>
Covid-Delta, Science, and the Problem of Known Unknowns – Analysis by Keith Rankin. It’s a known known that the late Donald Rumsfeld’s principal legacy to the world is the following quote: “As we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say ... <a title="Keith Rankin Analysis – the dangers of Delta, versus the dangers of reduced community immunity" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/08/20/keith-rankin-analysis-the-dangers-of-delta-versus-the-dangers-of-reduced-community-immunity/" aria-label="Read more about Keith Rankin Analysis – the dangers of Delta, versus the dangers of reduced community immunity">Read more</a>
Pacific Media Watch newsdesk The Committee to Protect Journalists has called on the Taliban to immediately cease harassing and attacking journalists for their work, allow women journalists to broadcast the news, and permit the media to operate freely and independently. Since August 15, members of the Taliban have barred at least two female journalists from ... <a title="Taliban take 2 female state TV anchors off-air in Afghanistan, bash 2 journalists" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/08/20/taliban-take-2-female-state-tv-anchors-off-air-in-afghanistan-bash-2-journalists/" aria-label="Read more about Taliban take 2 female state TV anchors off-air in Afghanistan, bash 2 journalists">Read more</a>
Asia Pacific Report newsdesk The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has called on Indonesian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Papuan leader Victor Yeimo from custody. Benny Wenda, interim president of the ULMWP, said Yeimo was a “clear victim” of Indonesian racism and his health was deteriorating under captivity. Yeimo, spokesperson for the ... <a title="Papua’s Victor Yeimo must be set free immediately, says Wenda" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/08/20/papuas-victor-yeimo-must-be-set-free-immediately-says-wenda/" aria-label="Read more about Papua’s Victor Yeimo must be set free immediately, says Wenda">Read more</a>
RNZ News New Zealand’s current cases of covid-19 — the first community outbreak for six months — have been linked to a traveller who arrived from Australia and was taken to Middlemore Hospital earlier this week. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield have provided a covid-19 update on day two ... <a title="NZ’s covid-19 outbreak linked to case from Australia – now 21 cases" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/08/20/nzs-covid-19-outbreak-linked-to-case-from-australia-now-21-cases/" aria-label="Read more about NZ’s covid-19 outbreak linked to case from Australia – now 21 cases">Read more</a>
ANALYSIS: By Keith Locke After the fall of Kabul, the obvious question for New Zealanders is whether we should ever have joined the American war in Afghanistan. Labour and National politicians, who sent our Special Forces there, will say yes. The Greens, who opposed the war from the start, will say no. Back in 2001, ... <a title="New Zealand should never have joined the war in Afghanistan" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/08/20/new-zealand-should-never-have-joined-the-war-in-afghanistan/" aria-label="Read more about New Zealand should never have joined the war in Afghanistan">Read more</a>
Opinion by Najib Hedayat, courtesy of MakeLemonade.nz. EDITOR’S NOTE: Najib Hedayat came to New Zealand as an Afghan teenage refugee, and later graduated with a master’s commerce degree at the University of Canterbury. He completed much of his postgraduate thesis in Kabul, Afghanistan. According to special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction (SIGAR), a unit created ... <a title="OP-ED: Reasons for the Afghan government collapse – Najib Hedayat" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/08/20/op-ed-reasons-for-the-afghan-government-collapse-najib-hedayat/" aria-label="Read more about OP-ED: Reasons for the Afghan government collapse – Najib Hedayat">Read more</a>
Selwyn Manning and Paul Buchanan present this week’s podcast where they analyse the crisis, the tragedy, unfolding in Afghanistan, including an apparent intelligence failure. But were former president Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden told of the likelihood of a swift and total takeover by Taliban as soon as the US-led forces began to pull out?
RNZ News New Zealand police are out again today enforcing the rules of the level 4 lockdown concentrating on dealing with any illegal gatherings, ensuring all travel is essential and providing reassurance patrols at places like supermarkets. Yesterday there were eight arrests at anti-lockdown protests in Auckland and Whangarei and drivers across the country were ... <a title="NZ police chief says anti-lockdown protests ‘disappointing’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/08/19/nz-police-chief-says-anti-lockdown-protests-disappointing/" aria-label="Read more about NZ police chief says anti-lockdown protests ‘disappointing’">Read more</a>
By Frank Rai in Port Moresby National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop has lashed out at the Papua New Guinean Department of Lands and Physical Planning for failing to maintain and manage portions of land in urban centers for public use. He said public space in NCD was “diminishing” and the department had not been ... <a title="Parkop blasts PNG Lands Department for failing to protect public parks" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/08/19/parkop-blasts-png-lands-department-for-failing-to-protect-public-parks/" aria-label="Read more about Parkop blasts PNG Lands Department for failing to protect public parks">Read more</a>