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
January 9, 2026
RNZ News Three people, including former Wellington mayoral hopeful Graham Bloxham, have been arrested at a Venezuela solidarity protest in New Zealand’s capital. Around 100 people were rallying against the US military action earlier this week outside New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) on Lambton Quay. During the event Bloxham, who was ... <a title="Former NZ mayoral hopeful arrested at Venezuela solidarity protest" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/09/former-nz-mayoral-hopeful-arrested-at-venezuela-solidarity-protest/" aria-label="Read more about Former NZ mayoral hopeful arrested at Venezuela solidarity protest">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 17, 2025
COMMENTARY: By Gerard Otto Israeli prison guards punish the prisoners “by breaking their thumbs” said a released detainee as lawyers speak out about torture, abuse, rape, starving and killings in a notorious underground Israeli prison facility where detainees are held without sunlight, brutalised. And nobody in New Zealand says a word. Scores of detainees from ... <a title="Israeli torture, abuse of Palestinian prisoners, death penalty law – yet NZ remains silent" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/17/israeli-torture-abuse-of-palestinian-prisoners-death-penalty-law-yet-nz-remains-silent/" aria-label="Read more about Israeli torture, abuse of Palestinian prisoners, death penalty law – yet NZ remains silent">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 15, 2025
COMMENTARY: By Gerard Otto While Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinian children in the town of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, the news broke in Aotearoa New Zealand that our government had been advised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) in September to recognise a Palestinian ... <a title="New Zealand backing Israel over two-state solution shows galling weak leadership" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/15/new-zealand-backing-israel-over-two-state-solution-shows-galling-weak-leadership/" aria-label="Read more about New Zealand backing Israel over two-state solution shows galling weak leadership">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 10, 2025
COMMENTARY: By Gerard Otto of G News This morning New Zealand Herald columnist and political commentator Matthew Hooton was paid to write an article justifying Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ position on denying Palestinian Statehood on the eve of the first phase of Donald Trump’s 20 point plan while in tandem Peters was interviewed by Ryan ... <a title="Misleading ‘justification’ column on Peters and Palestine panned" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/10/10/misleading-justification-column-on-peters-and-palestine-panned/" aria-label="Read more about Misleading ‘justification’ column on Peters and Palestine panned">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 8, 2025
New Zealanders deserve to know how the country’s foreign policy is made, writes John Hobbs. ANALYSIS: By John Hobbs The New Zealand government remains unwilling to support Palestinian statehood recognition at the United Nations General Assembly. This is a disgraceful position which gives support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza and seriously undermines our standing. Of ... <a title="John Hobbs: Why New Zealand’s repugnant stance over Palestine damages our global standing" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/10/08/john-hobbs-why-new-zealands-repugnant-stance-over-palestine-damages-our-global-standing/" aria-label="Read more about John Hobbs: Why New Zealand’s repugnant stance over Palestine damages our global standing">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 15, 2025
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>
CoveragePost
June 22, 2025
Asia Pacific Report The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa has called on New Zealanders to condemn the US bombing of Iran. PSNA co-chair Maher Nazzal said in a statement that he hoped the New Zealand government would be critical of the US for its war escalation. “Israel has once again hoodwinked the United States into fighting ... <a title="NZ group slams Israeli ‘hoodwinking’ of US over nuclear strikes – Peters calls for talks" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/22/nz-group-slams-israeli-hoodwinking-of-us-over-nuclear-strikes-peters-calls-for-talks/" aria-label="Read more about NZ group slams Israeli ‘hoodwinking’ of US over nuclear strikes – Peters calls for talks">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 21, 2025
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific presenter/producer Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark believes the Cook Islands, a realm of New Zealand, caused a crisis for itself by not consulting Wellington before signing a deal with China. The New Zealand government has paused more than $18 million in development assistance to the Cook Islands after ... <a title="Former New Zealand PM Helen Clark blames Cook Islands for crisis" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/21/former-new-zealand-pm-helen-clark-blames-cook-islands-for-crisis/" aria-label="Read more about Former New Zealand PM Helen Clark blames Cook Islands for crisis">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 20, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has suggested a double standard, saying he was “not privy to or consulted on” agreements New Zealand may enter into with China. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has paused $18.2 million in development assistance to the Cook Islands due to a lack ... <a title="Mark Brown: Cook Islands ‘not consulted’ on NZ-China agreements" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/20/mark-brown-cook-islands-not-consulted-on-nz-china-agreements/" aria-label="Read more about Mark Brown: Cook Islands ‘not consulted’ on NZ-China agreements">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 19, 2025
BACKGROUNDER: By Christina Persico, RNZ Pacific bulletin editor/presenter;Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific; and Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist New Zealand has paused $18.2 million in development assistance funding to the Cook Islands after its government signed partnership agreements with China earlier this year. This move is causing consternation in the realm country, with one local ... <a title="Why New Zealand has paused funding to the Cook Islands over China deal" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/19/why-new-zealand-has-paused-funding-to-the-cook-islands-over-china-deal/" aria-label="Read more about Why New Zealand has paused funding to the Cook Islands over China deal">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 17, 2025
RNZ Pacific New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters says countries have the right to choose who enters their borders in response to reports that the Trump administration is planning to impose travel restrictions on three dozen nations, including three in the Pacific. But opposition Labour’s deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni says the foreign minister should push ... <a title="US travel ban on Pacific 3 – countries have right to decide over borders, Peters says" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/17/us-travel-ban-on-pacific-3-countries-have-right-to-decide-over-borders-peters-says/" aria-label="Read more about US travel ban on Pacific 3 – countries have right to decide over borders, Peters says">Read more</a>
