ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for February 4, 2026
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on February 4, 2026.
Independent Analysis and Reportage
Category Added in a WPeMatico Campaign
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on February 4, 2026.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rohann Irving, Research Fellow, Flinders University As a new parliamentary year resumes, politicians such as the ACT’s David Pocock have renewed their calls for legislation to tackle Australia’s gambling losses, which are the worst in the world per capita. When questioned about its lack of action on ... <a title="You spin some, you lose more: how Albanese’s gambling rhetoric falls short" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/04/you-spin-some-you-lose-more-how-albaneses-gambling-rhetoric-falls-short-271614/" aria-label="Read more about You spin some, you lose more: how Albanese’s gambling rhetoric falls short">Read more</a>
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wellett Potter, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of New England ziphaus/Unsplash Would you create an interactive “digital twin” of yourself that can communicate with loved ones after your death? Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has made it possible to seemingly resurrect the dead. So-called griefbots or deathbots – ... <a title="An ‘AI afterlife’ is now a real option – but what becomes of your legal status?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/04/an-ai-afterlife-is-now-a-real-option-but-what-becomes-of-your-legal-status-274021/" aria-label="Read more about An ‘AI afterlife’ is now a real option – but what becomes of your legal status?">Read more</a>
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meg Elkins, Associate Professor in Economics, RMIT University When the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) board voted unanimously to lift the cash rate to 3.85% on Tuesday, the decision was driven by one overriding concern. It wants to stop the rising cost of living from becoming entrenched. ... <a title="What the RBA wants Australians to do next to fight inflation – or risk more rate hikes" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/04/what-the-rba-wants-australians-to-do-next-to-fight-inflation-or-risk-more-rate-hikes-274984/" aria-label="Read more about What the RBA wants Australians to do next to fight inflation – or risk more rate hikes">Read more</a>

Asia Pacific Report Ka Lāhui Hawaiʻi, a Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawai’ian) initiative for self-determination and self-governance formed in 1987, has sent a 17-member Indigenous delegation to Waitangi to stand in solidarity with Māori in defence of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The delegation is present to “stand alongside Māori leadership, strengthen international solidarity, and affirm the ... <a title="Big Ka Lāhui Hawaiʻi delegation joins Māori in solidarity over Te Tiriti" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/04/big-ka-lahui-hawai%ca%bbi-delegation-joins-maori-in-solidarity-over-te-tiriti/" aria-label="Read more about Big Ka Lāhui Hawaiʻi delegation joins Māori in solidarity over Te Tiriti">Read more</a>
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The South Australian state election will be held on March 21. Preferential voting will be used to elect members for all 47 single-member lower house seats. This ... <a title="Why preferential voting is superior to first past the post" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/04/why-preferential-voting-is-superior-to-first-past-the-post-264248/" aria-label="Read more about Why preferential voting is superior to first past the post">Read more</a>
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicola Macaulay, Senior Tutor and PhD Candidate, Centre for Defence and Security Studies, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University NZ Defence Force Across the Pacific and the Southern Ocean, New Zealand has been trying to strike a careful balance in its defence and surveillance approach. While ... <a title="Is NZ defence and intelligence policy aligning with AUKUS in all but name?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/04/is-nz-defence-and-intelligence-policy-aligning-with-aukus-in-all-but-name-274609/" aria-label="Read more about Is NZ defence and intelligence policy aligning with AUKUS in all but name?">Read more</a>

By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor A court ruling in favour of Fiji’s dismissed anti-corruption chief has “embarrassed” Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, a New Zealand-based Fiji politics academic says. University of Canterbury distinguished professor Steven Ratuva told RNZ Pacific Waves that while the Fiji High Court decision on Barbara Malimali offered “clarity” on the separation ... <a title="High Court defeat piles pressure on ’embarrassed’ Fiji PM Rabuka’s leadership, says academic" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/04/high-court-defeat-piles-pressure-on-embarrassed-fiji-pm-rabukas-leadership-says-academic/" aria-label="Read more about High Court defeat piles pressure on ’embarrassed’ Fiji PM Rabuka’s leadership, says academic">Read more</a>

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Martin Farr, Senior Lecturer in Contemporary British History, Newcastle University Peter Mandelson and Keir Starmer pictured in February 2025. Flickr/Number 10, CC BY-NC-ND No accident waiting to happen can ever have delivered on its promise so spectacularly as Lord Mandelson, with the continuous revelations of his ties ... <a title="The fall of Peter Mandelson and the many questions the UK government must now answer" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/04/the-fall-of-peter-mandelson-and-the-many-questions-the-uk-government-must-now-answer-275011/" aria-label="Read more about The fall of Peter Mandelson and the many questions the UK government must now answer">Read more</a>

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David McMillan, Professor in Finance, University of Stirling i viewfinder/Shutterstock In late January, the gold price reached an all-time peak of around US$5,500 (£4,025). January 30 saw one of the largest one-day falls in prices, which sank by nearly 10% after hitting a record high only the ... <a title="The rise and fall (and rise again) of gold prices – what’s going on?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/04/the-rise-and-fall-and-rise-again-of-gold-prices-whats-going-on-275017/" aria-label="Read more about The rise and fall (and rise again) of gold prices – what’s going on?">Read more</a>

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jeff Scheible, Senior Lecturer in Film Studies, King’s College London Table tennis and film have a surprisingly entangled history. Both depended on the invention of celluloid – which not only became the substrate of film, but is also used to make ping pong balls. Following a brief ... <a title="A brief history of table tennis in film – from Forrest Gump to Marty Supreme" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/04/a-brief-history-of-table-tennis-in-film-from-forrest-gump-to-marty-supreme-274445/" aria-label="Read more about A brief history of table tennis in film – from Forrest Gump to Marty Supreme">Read more</a>

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Keith Rathbone, Senior Lecturer, Modern European History and Sports History, Macquarie University Since the murder of 11 Israeli hostages at the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, security has been fundamental for games stakeholders. The 2024 Paris games set new benchmarks for security at a mega-event, and now the ... <a title="Winter Olympic security tightens as US-European tensions grow" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/04/winter-olympic-security-tightens-as-us-european-tensions-grow-274530/" aria-label="Read more about Winter Olympic security tightens as US-European tensions grow">Read more</a>