CoveragePost
February 19, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand The government is expected to make an announcement on housing plans for Auckland. RNZ / Kate Newton The details of the government’s election year U-turn on housing plans in Auckland are expected to be announced shortly. The Housing Minister has had to grapple with potentially legislating over a plan change that ... <a title="Government expected to make announcement on Auckland housing plan U-turn" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/19/government-expected-to-make-announcement-on-auckland-housing-plan-u-turn/" aria-label="Read more about Government expected to make announcement on Auckland housing plan U-turn">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 19, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand University of Otago law professor Andrew Geddis. Supplied A law expert says it is ironic the coalition appears to have run out of time to put a four year Parliamentary term to a referendum. The government has ditched a bill to put a longer electoral term to a binding referendum, citing ... <a title="Ironic that government has ‘run out of time’ to pursue longer Parliamentary term – law expert" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/19/ironic-that-government-has-run-out-of-time-to-pursue-longer-parliamentary-term-law-expert/" aria-label="Read more about Ironic that government has ‘run out of time’ to pursue longer Parliamentary term – law expert">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 19, 2026
By Craig McCulloch, RNZ News deputy political editor Winston Peters has been accused of “pure racism” in Parliament by Labour leader Chris Hipkins, who has called out National ministers for failing to combat or challenge it. The Greens say Peters is scapegoating migrants, while ACT’s David Seymour — his own Cabinet colleague — says Peters ... <a title="Labour’s Chris Hipkins accuses Winston Peters of ‘pure racism’ in Parliament" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/19/labours-chris-hipkins-accuses-winston-peters-of-pure-racism-in-parliament/" aria-label="Read more about Labour’s Chris Hipkins accuses Winston Peters of ‘pure racism’ in Parliament">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Artist’s visualisation of a second Mt Victoria Tunnel in Wellington. NZTA / Waka Kotahi The Transport Minister says holding off on a second Mount Victoria tunnel is something under consideration, if congestion charging shows it is not needed. But the Finance Minister insists the project is “all go,” with work already ... <a title="Is Mount Victoria tunnel ‘all go’, or still under consideration?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/is-mount-victoria-tunnel-all-go-or-still-under-consideration/" aria-label="Read more about Is Mount Victoria tunnel ‘all go’, or still under consideration?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor Fiji President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has urged legislators not to sow seeds of “fear and division” as the country moves towards a general election later this year. Speaking at the opening of the fourth and final session of Parliament before the polls, Ratu Naiqama called on political leaders and ... <a title="Fiji’s president warns against sowing ‘seeds of fear’ ahead of elections" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/fijis-president-warns-against-sowing-seeds-of-fear-ahead-of-elections/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji’s president warns against sowing ‘seeds of fear’ ahead of elections">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand NZ First leader singled out a Green MP for his Rarotongan heritage, which Labour leader Chris Hipkins says was “pure racism”. RNZ Winston Peters has been accused of “pure racism” in Parliament by Labour leader Chris Hipkins, who has called out National ministers for failing to combat or challenge it. The ... <a title="Chris Hipkins accuses Winston Peters of ‘pure racism’ in Parliament" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/chris-hipkins-accuses-winston-peters-of-pure-racism-in-parliament/" aria-label="Read more about Chris Hipkins accuses Winston Peters of ‘pure racism’ in Parliament">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand NZ First leader singled out a Green MP for his Rarotongan heritage, which Labour leader Chris Hipkins says was “pure racism”. RNZ Winston Peters has been accused of “pure racism” in Parliament by Labour leader Chris Hipkins, who has called out National ministers for failing to combat or challenge it. The ... <a title="Hipkins accuses Peters of ‘pure racism’ in Parliament" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/hipkins-accuses-peters-of-pure-racism-in-parliament/" aria-label="Read more about Hipkins accuses Peters of ‘pure racism’ in Parliament">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Tom Kitchin The Infrastructure Commission has moved to clarify its suggestion around tolling the Auckland Harbour Bridge, with the government considering whether a toll will help pay for a new Waitematā Harbour crossing. The government has been at pains to stress no decisions have been made around tolling the existing bridge, ... <a title="Infrastructure Commission clarifies suggestion of Auckland Harbour Bridge toll" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/infrastructure-commission-clarifies-suggestion-of-auckland-harbour-bridge-toll/" aria-label="Read more about Infrastructure Commission clarifies suggestion of Auckland Harbour Bridge toll">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
By Kaya Selby, RNZ Pacific journalist Papua New Guinea is under a close watch for money laundering, running a risk of being abandoned by global investors. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has placed PNG on its “grey list” due to “strategic deficiencies” in government oversight. The grey-list means that watchdog officials are monitoring closely, ... <a title="PNG one step away from blacklist, warns global money laundering watchdog" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/png-one-step-away-from-blacklist-warns-global-money-laundering-watchdog/" aria-label="Read more about PNG one step away from blacklist, warns global money laundering watchdog">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Children are still no safer than when Malachi Subecz was murdered, according to a new report from the Independent Children’s Monitor. It is the second review of the implementation of the recommendations from a report into Malachi’s death, and has showed little progress has been made. Malachi died of a blunt ... <a title="Children still no safer than when Malachi Subecz was murdered – latest report" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/children-still-no-safer-than-when-malachi-subecz-was-murdered-latest-report/" aria-label="Read more about Children still no safer than when Malachi Subecz was murdered – latest report">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Democracy Now! In Gaza, a senior Hamas leader involved in the ceasefire negotiations has told Drop Site News that Hamas will not agree to demands that it unilaterally disarm. Basem Naim also said that Hamas would not submit to Israel’s demand for a total demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip. This comes amid reports that President ... <a title="Hamas refuses to follow US-Israel calls to unilaterally disarm in Gaza, says senior official" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/hamas-refuses-to-follow-us-israel-calls-to-unilaterally-disarm-in-gaza-says-senior-official/" aria-label="Read more about Hamas refuses to follow US-Israel calls to unilaterally disarm in Gaza, says senior official">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Two new medicines for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia could be on the way, with Pharmac proposing to fund venetoclax with ibrutinib or with obinutuzumab. If accepted, the combination therapies could be available as first line treatments from 1 May 2026. Associate Health Minister David Seymour said CLL was not curable, ... <a title="Pharmac looks to fund two new medicines for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/pharmac-looks-to-fund-two-new-medicines-for-chronic-lymphocytic-leukaemia/" aria-label="Read more about Pharmac looks to fund two new medicines for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia">Read more</a>
