CoveragePost
August 4, 2025
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>
CoveragePost
July 21, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist The Cook Islands’ outer islands, or Pa Enua, are emptying as people make the pilgrimage to Rarotonga for constitution celebrations. This year is particularly significant, August 4 marks 60 years of the Cook Islands being in free association with New Zealand. Cook Islands Secretary of Culture Emile Kairua said ... <a title="Cook Islanders flock from outer islands for 60th anniversary celebrations" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/07/21/cook-islanders-flock-from-outer-islands-for-60th-anniversary-celebrations/" aria-label="Read more about Cook Islanders flock from outer islands for 60th anniversary celebrations">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 3, 2025
By Reinhard Minong in Port Moresby The Catholic Church has strongly warned against Papua New Guinea’s political rhetoric and push to declare the nation a Christian country, saying such a move threatens constitutional freedoms and risks dangerous implications for the country’s future. Speaking before the Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Communication on Tuesday at Rapopo during ... <a title="Catholic Church warns against PNG declaring itself a ‘Christian country’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/07/03/catholic-church-warns-against-png-declaring-itself-a-christian-country/" aria-label="Read more about Catholic Church warns against PNG declaring itself a ‘Christian country’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 18, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist Papua New Guinea being declared a Christian nation may offer the impression that the country will improve, but it is only “an illusion”, according to a Catholic priest in the country. Last week, the PNG Parliament amended the nation’s constitution, introducing a declaration in its preamble: “(We) acknowledge and ... <a title="Catholic priest calls PNG’s Christian state declaration ‘cosmetic’ change" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/03/18/catholic-priest-calls-pngs-christian-state-declaration-cosmetic-change/" aria-label="Read more about Catholic priest calls PNG’s Christian state declaration ‘cosmetic’ change">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 12, 2025
With the sudden departure of New Zealand’s Reserve Bank Governor, one has to ask whether there is a pattern here — of a succession of public sector leaders leaving their posts in uncertain circumstances and a series of decisions being made without much regard for due process. It brings to mind the current spectacle of ... <a title="How New Zealand is venturing down the road of political upheaval" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/03/12/how-new-zealand-is-venturing-down-the-road-of-political-upheaval/" aria-label="Read more about How New Zealand is venturing down the road of political upheaval">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 22, 2025
SPECIAL REPORT: By Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson and Lilomaiava Maina Vai The Speaker of the House, Papali’i Li’o Taeu Masipau, decisively addressed a letter from FAST, which informed him of the removal of Fiame along with Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Tevaga Ponifasio, Leatinu’u Wayne Fong, Olo Fiti Vaai, Faualo Harry Schuster, and Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster from ... <a title="Samoa political update: Fiame prevails in leadership crisis" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/01/22/samoa-political-update-fiame-prevails-in-leadership-crisis/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa political update: Fiame prevails in leadership crisis">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 15, 2024
ANALYSIS: By Alexander Gillespie, University of Waikato and Claire Breen, University of Waikato With the protest hīkoi from the Far North moving through Rotorua on its way to Wellington, it might be said ACT leader David Seymour has been granted his wish of generating an “important national conversation about the place of the Treaty in ... <a title="NZ’s Treaty Principles Bill is already straining social cohesion – a referendum could be worse" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/11/15/nzs-treaty-principles-bill-is-already-straining-social-cohesion-a-referendum-could-be-worse/" aria-label="Read more about NZ’s Treaty Principles Bill is already straining social cohesion – a referendum could be worse">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 13, 2024
By Lillian Hanly, RNZ political reporter Members of the King’s Counsel, some of New Zealand’s most senior legal minds, say the controversial Treaty Principles Bill “seeks to rewrite the Treaty itself” and are calling on the prime minister and the coalition government to “act responsibly now and abandon” it. More than 40 KCs have written ... <a title="Senior NZ lawyers call for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/11/13/senior-nz-lawyers-call-for-treaty-principles-bill-to-be-abandoned/" aria-label="Read more about Senior NZ lawyers call for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 7, 2024
COMMENTARY: By Gavin Ellis This morning, I am afraid. I am very afraid. I fear that by the time I go to bed democracy in the United States will be imperilled by a man, the nature of which the Founding Fathers could never envisage when creating the protective elements of the constitution. The risks will ... <a title="Gavin Ellis: A day to be gripped by fear – ‘freedom’ will lose its true meaning" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/11/07/gavin-ellis-a-day-to-be-gripped-by-fear-freedom-will-lose-its-true-meaning/" aria-label="Read more about Gavin Ellis: A day to be gripped by fear – ‘freedom’ will lose its true meaning">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 3, 2024
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Vanuatu’s former prime minister and opposition MP Ishmael Kalsakau has stepped down — just two days after he confirmed he was the rightful opposition leader. Kalsakau, MP for Port Vila, confirmed to ABC’s Pacific Beat, and the Vanuatu Daily Post on Thursday that he had resigned along with his ... <a title="Vanuatu’s Kalsakau resigns, calls for delay on constitutional referendum" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/05/03/vanuatus-kalsakau-resigns-calls-for-delay-on-constitutional-referendum/" aria-label="Read more about Vanuatu’s Kalsakau resigns, calls for delay on constitutional referendum">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 14, 2024
RNZ Pacific Two years after beginning consultations, the Bougainville Constitutional Planning Commission has released its first draft of a home grown constitution. Bougainville expects to become independent of Papua New Guinea within three years and writing a constitution is a key part of that process. The draft constitution is the result of 40 commissioners travelling ... <a title="Bougainville has first draft of new home grown constitution" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/03/14/bougainville-has-first-draft-of-new-home-grown-constitution/" aria-label="Read more about Bougainville has first draft of new home grown constitution">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 1, 2024
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Collectiveness at it most potent has been called asabiyya by macrohistorian and cliodynamicist Peter Turchin. At its least potent, collectiveness is a recipe for social division, top-heaviness, escalating inequality, and societal breakdown. The present ‘debates’ in Aotearoa New Zealand – ostensibly about Te Tiriti, the Treaty of Waitangi – represent a ... <a title="Keith Rankin Analysis – Collective versus Individual: Māori versus ‘Maoris’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/02/01/keith-rankin-analysis-collective-versus-individual-maori-versus-maoris/" aria-label="Read more about Keith Rankin Analysis – Collective versus Individual: Māori versus ‘Maoris’">Read more</a>
