CoveragePost
April 20, 2026
Essay by Keith Rankin, 16 April 2026. On 14 April, TV3 News ran an item (15 minutes in, not in the sports section) about how the Crusaders rugby team will, with the new Christchurch stadium, no longer be able to parade its horses and knights circuiting the sportsfield. Many of the fans, despite now having ... <a title="Keith Rankin Essay – Crusaders; the Crass, the Past, and the Present" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/20/keith-rankin-essay-crusaders-the-crass-the-past-and-the-present/" aria-label="Read more about Keith Rankin Essay – Crusaders; the Crass, the Past, and the Present">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 6, 2026
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor The All Blacks have their first coach of Pasifika heritage. Dave Rennie has been given the job, replacing the ousted Scott Robertson. Rennie’s Cook Islands heritage comes via his mother, who hails from Titikaveka on Rarotonga, and Rennie even played a non-test match for the country in 1990. Asked ... <a title="‘I know she’d be really proud’ – NZ’s first Pasifika heritage All Blacks coach" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/06/i-know-shed-be-really-proud-nzs-first-pasifika-heritage-all-blacks-coach/" aria-label="Read more about ‘I know she’d be really proud’ – NZ’s first Pasifika heritage All Blacks coach">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 2, 2024
RNZ News Media publisher NZME has come under fire for admitting it used artificial intelligence to create editorials that ran in the Weekend Herald and other publications, with a media commentator saying it “can only damage trust”. RNZ’s Mediawatch revealed late yesterday that NZME had used AI to write an editorial about “Who the All ... <a title="NZME cops criticism after using AI to write rugby editorial" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/08/02/nzme-cops-criticism-after-using-ai-to-write-rugby-editorial/" aria-label="Read more about NZME cops criticism after using AI to write rugby editorial">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 20, 2023
By Rodney Duthie Lekima Tagitagivalu knows too well how the French are rugby crazy and wasn’t surprised about the support shown to the Flying Fijians in last weekend’s Rugby World Cup match against Australia. Playing for Pau in the Top 14 competition, the 27-year-old flanker is a favourite in the French competition. He is one ... <a title="RWC2023: Fiji’s ’16th man’ – how French support boosts Flying Fijians" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/09/20/rwc2023-fijis-16th-man-how-french-support-boosts-flying-fijians/" aria-label="Read more about RWC2023: Fiji’s ’16th man’ – how French support boosts Flying Fijians">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 25, 2023
The Fijian Drua will need to start and finish well, while Moana Pasifika’s coach wants to see a full 80-minute performance this weekend as the two regional teams continue their Super Rugby Pacific campaigns. The Drua tackle the Highlanders in Dunedin today and Pasifika face the Hurricanes at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, later on in ... <a title="Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika looking for 80min performances" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/25/fijian-drua-and-moana-pasifika-looking-for-80min-performances/" aria-label="Read more about Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika looking for 80min performances">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 13, 2022
By Tony Smith of Stuff The tiny Pacific territory of Wallis and Futuna can, per capita, surely lay claim to be test rugby’s hottest talent nursery. Three players who trace their heritage to Wallis and Futuna — a French “overseas collectivity” located north-west of Fiji and west of Samoa — are in France’s Six Nations ... <a title="Six Nations: How Wallis and Futuna players have boosted France’s title hopes" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/03/13/six-nations-how-wallis-and-futuna-players-have-boosted-frances-title-hopes/" aria-label="Read more about Six Nations: How Wallis and Futuna players have boosted France’s title hopes">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 5, 2022
RNZ Pacific The Fijian Drua have made history, defeating the Melbourne Rebels 31-26 in Queensland for their first-ever Super Rugby win last night, and Moana Pasifika lost their debut match 33-12 against the Crusaders in Dunedin but still impressed. The tournament newcomers Drua went into Friday night’s match as underdogs following heavy defeats to the ... <a title="Super Rugby: Drua notch a win, and Moana Pasifika plays first game" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/03/05/super-rugby-drua-notch-a-win-and-moana-pasifika-plays-first-game/" aria-label="Read more about Super Rugby: Drua notch a win, and Moana Pasifika plays first game">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 29, 2021
RNZ Pacific Fiji has dedicated its Olympic rugby sevens win to the people back home who are struggling amidst the country’s covid-19 health crisis. Fiji defeated New Zealand 27-12 in the men’s sevens final in Tokyo to defend the title they won in Rio five years ago. Captain Jerry Tuwai said the win is very ... <a title="Fiji dedicates Olympic sevens win to struggling people back home" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/07/29/fiji-dedicates-olympic-sevens-win-to-struggling-people-back-home/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji dedicates Olympic sevens win to struggling people back home">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 1, 2021
By Barry Guy, RNZ News sports reporter New Zealand Rugby is accusing the Players’ Association of misrepresenting the reasons for their opposition to the Silver Lake deal. Thursday’s NZR annual general meeting unanimously backed the selling of a minority stake in its commercial arm to the US private equity firm. Holding up the NZ$387.5 million ... <a title="NZ Rugby accuses Players’ Association of misrepresentation over US deal" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/01/nz-rugby-accuses-players-association-of-misrepresentation-over-us-deal/" aria-label="Read more about NZ Rugby accuses Players’ Association of misrepresentation over US deal">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 15, 2020
Part of the 43,000 crowd at Auckland’s Eden Park yesterday afternoon watching the Blues defeat the Hurricanes 30-20. Image: RNZ/Photosport By RNZ News New Zealand’s first weekend at post-covid alert level 1 drew massive crowds to Super Rugby Aotearoa matches in Auckland and Dunedin – but hospital emergency departments across the country also felt the ... <a title="World’s first post-covid live rugby draws massive crowds in NZ" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/15/worlds-first-post-covid-live-rugby-draws-massive-crowds-in-nz/" aria-label="Read more about World’s first post-covid live rugby draws massive crowds in NZ">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 14, 2020
By Sri Krishnamurthi of Pacific Media Watch Thousands of people took part in the Black Lives Matter protests in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin today. Auckland’s Aotea Square protesters, largely peaceful and family oriented, marched to Custom Street and demonstrated outside the American consulate where protesters took a knee and observed a minute of silence for ... <a title="Thousands throng Auckland for NZ Black Lives Matter protests" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/14/thousands-throng-auckland-for-nz-black-lives-matter-protests/" aria-label="Read more about Thousands throng Auckland for NZ Black Lives Matter protests">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 17, 2019
By Tulia Thompson A minister of a Pacific church in Auckland has spoken out against rugby star Israel Folau’s homophobic attack. Samoan Minister Apelu Tielu from the Pacific Island Presbyterian Church has criticised Folau’s misuse of the Bible, saying Folau has used the Bible “as an excuse”. Folau has defended his homophobic stance despite being ... <a title="Israel Folau ‘misuses’ Bible to justify hatred, says Samoan Minister" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2019/06/17/israel-folau-misuses-bible-to-justify-hatred-says-samoan-minister/" aria-label="Read more about Israel Folau ‘misuses’ Bible to justify hatred, says Samoan Minister">Read more</a>
