News

Editorial coverage from the Auckland New Zealand Wire newsroom.

Technology
Most New Zealanders worry about AI’s risks, even as many expect to use it – new survey
Depending on which headlines we read, artificial intelligence (AI) could be one of humanity’s greatest advances – or one of its gravest threats.
SyndicatedJohn Kerr, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Public Health, University of Otago28 Oct 20264 min read
Government
Why Republicans are on the back foot ahead of US midterm elections
Next week, tens of millions of Americans will head to the polls to elect their representatives to the 120th US Congress. The race for the US president attracts the lion’s share of global media attention every four years, but the midterms cr…
SyndicatedAva Kalinauskas, Senior Research Associate, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney28 Oct 20265 min read
Technology
Migraine remedies are everywhere on social media, but the evidence needs a closer look
When you have a migraine, anything that might ease the pain can become very appealing. On social media, that might mean ordering chips and a Coke or pressing a cold spoon against your forehead.
SyndicatedAmanda Ellison, Professor of Neuroscience, Durham University28 Oct 20265 min read
Education
Serbia’s leaderless student movement has won a historic election – but what happens next?
Serbia’s leaderless anti-corruption coalition, the Student List, defeated the group led by former president Aleksandar Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) by a comfortable margin in October 25 elections.
SyndicatedEric Gordy, Professor of Political and Cultural Sociology, UCL28 Oct 20265 min read
Business
Cost is not the only reason people buy illicit tobacco – for some, it’s an act of defiance
Recent estimates suggest illicit tobacco now accounts for between 50% and 60% of tobacco consumed in Australia. Rapid growth in the Australian illicit tobacco market raises concerns a similar situation could evolve in New Zealand.
SyndicatedJanet Hoek, Professor in Public Health, University of Otago27 Oct 20264 min read
Business
Parties may have competing tax visions, but paying for NZ’s future isn’t getting cheaper
It may be taking a back seat to cost-of-living pressures, unemployment and the state of the economy, but tax was always going to be a hot issue in this year’s election.
SyndicatedLisa Marriott, Professor of Taxation, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington27 Oct 20265 min read
Government
In opting for Lula, Brazil made a conservative choice to elect a man of the left over one of the far right
The 2026 elections in Brazil played out amid an widespread assumption repeated around the world: that the country was polarized and that would inform the vote.
SyndicatedJoão Gabriel de Lima, Jornalista, doutorando em Política Comparada, Universidade de Lisboa27 Oct 20264 min read
Science
The upside of untidiness: why a little mess can be good for your home
If we’re to follow the philosophy of organiser extraordinaire Marie Kondo, a tidy home is a better home.
SyndicatedJamal Abarashi, Lecturer, Marketing and International Business Department, Auckland University of Technology27 Oct 20263 min read
Business
Andy Burnham has maintained the public’s approval through his first 100 days as the UK’s PM – that’s unheard of these days
In his first 100 days in office, Andy Burnham has challenged the economic consensus shared by UK governments in recent decades and set up a prime ministerial office outside London with a remit to rewire the state and devolve power.
SyndicatedStephen Coleman, Emeritus Professor of Political Communication, University of Leeds27 Oct 20264 min read
Science
Stanford prison experiment: why do controversial psychology studies still have such a hold on us?
Two of the most famous experiments in psychology, the Stanford prison experiment and Stanley Milgram’s obedience studies, have been called a sham, a lie and a fraud.
SyndicatedDavid Kaposi, Psychotherapist and Senior Lecturer in Psychology, The Open University27 Oct 20264 min read
Government
Democrats remain clear favourites to gain control of Congress at midterms as Trump’s ratings slide again
With eight days until the November 3 US midterm elections, Democrats have a three in four chance of gaining control of the Senate, and remain overwhelming favourites to gain control of the House of Representatives in Nate Silver’s forecast…
SyndicatedAdrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne26 Oct 20265 min read
Health
NZ’s hidden chronic health burden is even bigger than we thought – new analysis
In New Zealand, more than 80% of healthcare costs go toward caring for people with long-term or chronic conditions.
SyndicatedKatrina Poppe, Associate Professor of Health Data Science, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau26 Oct 20263 min read