Independent Analysis and Reportage
There is a narrative going around that the war in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman – Israel/USA versus Iran – is a training exercise for the big one, a war between the United States and China centred on the Taiwan Strait.
Asia Pacific Report Speakers at a pro-Palestine rally in central Auckland Tamaki Makaurau today were highly critical of the erosion of New Zealand’s once proud nuclear-free and independent foreign policy. They also warned against being tied into a United States that is pivoting a hostile policy towards China, New Zealand’s major trading partner. Ironically, just ... <a title="NZ rally slams Five Eyes intelligence ties hours before US-Israel attack on Iran" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/01/nz-rally-slams-five-eyes-intelligence-ties-hours-before-us-israel-attack-on-iran/" aria-label="Read more about NZ rally slams Five Eyes intelligence ties hours before US-Israel attack on Iran">Read more</a>
By Kaya Selby, RNZ Pacific journalist Just over a week after the United States announced its withdrawal from the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) — China has stepped in to fill the funding gap. President Donald Trump included the scientific organisation among a list of others that US government officials were ordered to withdraw from. ... <a title="China matches US contribution to Pacific environmental body a week after Trump pulls out" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/15/china-matches-us-contribution-to-pacific-environmental-body-a-week-after-trump-pulls-out/" aria-label="Read more about China matches US contribution to Pacific environmental body a week after Trump pulls out">Read more</a>
ANALYSIS: By Bryce Edwards When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, New Zealand responded with unusual speed. Sanctions followed. Condemnations were issued. The language was unambiguous. We were told this was about defending the “rules-based international order” — a phrase our politicians have grown remarkably fond of. Winston Peters has deployed it frequently in his time ... <a title="Bryce Edwards: NZ’s craven stance on the US invasion of Venezuela" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/07/bryce-edwards-nzs-craven-stance-on-the-us-invasion-of-venezuela/" aria-label="Read more about Bryce Edwards: NZ’s craven stance on the US invasion of Venezuela">Read more</a>
COMMENTARY: By Ramzy Baroud UNSC Resolution 2803 is unequivocally rejected. It is a direct contravention of international law itself, imposed by the United States with the full knowledge and collaboration of Arab and Muslim states. These regimes brutally turned their backs on the Palestinians throughout the genocide, with some actively helping Israel cope with the ... <a title="Ramzy Baroud: Pathetic attempt to achieve by Gaza decree what US-Israel failed to gain through brute force" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/21/ramzy-baroud-pathetic-attempt-to-achieve-by-gaza-decree-what-us-israel-failed-to-gain-through-brute-force/" aria-label="Read more about Ramzy Baroud: Pathetic attempt to achieve by Gaza decree what US-Israel failed to gain through brute force">Read more</a>
While Indonesians worry about President Prabowo Subianto’s undemocratic moves, the failures of his flagship “breakfast” policy, and a faltering economy, Australia enters into another “treaty” of little import. Duncan Graham reports. COMMENTARY: By Duncan Graham Under-reported in the Australian and New Zealand media, Indonesia has been gripped by protests this year, some of them violent. ... <a title="Canberra pandering to Prabowo, while ignoring unrest in West Papua" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/20/canberra-pandering-to-prabowo-while-ignoring-unrest-in-west-papua/" aria-label="Read more about Canberra pandering to Prabowo, while ignoring unrest in West Papua">Read more</a>
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Are wars affordable? The answer of course is ‘yes and no’. Affording a war is different from financing a war. To make any new thing affordable, either there must be a reallocation of resources or a deployment of resources not otherwise in use. Or a mix of both. Further, resources get ... <a title="Keith Rankin Analysis – Affording and Financing Wars, with reference to the United States" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/07/keith-rankin-analysis-affording-and-financing-wars-with-reference-to-the-united-states/" aria-label="Read more about Keith Rankin Analysis – Affording and Financing Wars, with reference to the United States">Read more</a>
ANALYSIS: By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent The signing of the Papua New Guinea-Australia Mutual Defence Treaty — officially known as the Pukpuk Treaty — marks a defining moment in the modern Pacific order. Framed as a “historic milestone”, the pact re-casts security cooperation between Port Moresby and Canberra while stirring deeper debates about ... <a title="The Pukpuk Treaty and the future of Papua New Guinea-Australia relations" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/10/09/the-pukpuk-treaty-and-the-future-of-papua-new-guinea-australia-relations/" aria-label="Read more about The Pukpuk Treaty and the future of Papua New Guinea-Australia relations">Read more</a>
By Giff Johnson, Marshall Islands Journal editor/RNZ Pacific correspondent Leaders of the three Pacific nations with diplomatic ties to Taiwan are united in a message to the Pacific Islands Forum that the premier regional body must not allow non-member countries to dictate Forum policies — a reference to the China-Taiwan geopolitical debate. Marshall Islands President ... <a title="Marshall Islands president warns of threat to Pacific Islands Forum unity" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/05/marshall-islands-president-warns-of-threat-to-pacific-islands-forum-unity/" aria-label="Read more about Marshall Islands president warns of threat to Pacific Islands Forum unity">Read more</a>
By Teuila Fuatai, RNZ Pacific senior journalist New Zealand’s foreign minister says Cook Islanders are free to choose whether their country continues in free association with New Zealand. Winston Peters made the comment at a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the constitution of the Cook Islands in Auckland today. Peters attended the community event ... <a title="‘Right to choose’ key to Cook Islands-NZ relationship, says Peters" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/04/right-to-choose-key-to-cook-islands-nz-relationship-says-peters/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Right to choose’ key to Cook Islands-NZ relationship, says Peters">Read more</a>
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist New Zealand will not send top government representation to the Cook Islands for its 60th Constitution Day celebrations in three weeks’ time. Instead, Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro will represent Aotearoa in Rarotonga. On August 4, Cook Islands will mark 60 years of self-governance in free association with New Zealand. ... <a title="Luxon and Peters to miss Cook Islands’ 60th Constitution Day celebrations" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/07/15/luxon-and-peters-to-miss-cook-islands-60th-constitution-day-celebrations/" aria-label="Read more about Luxon and Peters to miss Cook Islands’ 60th Constitution Day celebrations">Read more</a>
ANALYSIS: By Eugene Doyle Setting aside any thoughts I may have about theocratic rulers (whether they be in Tel Aviv or Tehran), I am personally glad that Iran was able to hold out against the US-Israeli attacks this month. The ceasefire, however, will only be a pause in the long-running campaign to destabilise, weaken and ... <a title="Eugene Doyle: Why Asia-Pacific should be cheering for Iran and not US bomb-based statecraft" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/28/eugene-doyle-why-asia-pacific-should-be-cheering-for-iran-and-not-us-bomb-based-statecraft/" aria-label="Read more about Eugene Doyle: Why Asia-Pacific should be cheering for Iran and not US bomb-based statecraft">Read more</a>