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Science Media Centre NZ
Our aim is to promote accurate, evidence-based reporting on science and technology by helping the media work more closely with the scientific community.
The Science Media Centre is New Zealand's only trusted, independent source of information for the media on all issues related to science. Thousands of news stories providing context from and quoting New Zealand researchers have been published as a direct result of our work.
Science Media Centre NZ - Latest News [Page 3]
Genetic Discrimination In New Zealand – Expert Reaction
Friday, 28 April 2023, 10:04 am | Science Media Centre
Health professionals want government regulations to protect New Zealanders from genetic discrimination by insurance companies, according to a new survey. Almost two dozen Kiwi healthcare professionals who discuss genetic testing with patients ... More >>
A Looming Deadline For Deep-sea Mining Regulations – Expert Q&A
Wednesday, 19 April 2023, 5:57 pm | Science Media Centre
An untapped abundance of minerals lies at the bottom of the deep sea. These include metals that are crucial for the production of electric vehicles and other “green technologies,” but the environmental impacts of mining these materials are largely ... More >>
Taking Breaks To Stay Covid-safe – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 11 April 2023, 10:12 am | Science Media Centre
Keeping rooms ventilated and taking breaks are critical factors in stopping respiratory viruses like COVID-19 from building up inside during a gathering, new modelling research suggests. Research published today in PNAS models the spread of respiratory disease ... More >>
New Zealand’s First Recorded Case Of Rabies – Expert Reaction
Friday, 31 March 2023, 11:57 am | Science Media Centre
A traveller who contracted the rabies virus overseas was diagnosed in New Zealand last week and subsequently died. Health officials say person-to-person transmission of rabies almost never happens, so there is no risk to members of the public. The ... More >>
10-year Plan For Pacific Children’s Health – Expert Reaction
Friday, 31 March 2023, 11:57 am | Science Media Centre
Quality housing, sustainable incomes, and better access to healthcare and education would make a world of difference to Pacific children’s lives, according to researchers. The recommendations are made in the Tamaiti Ole Moana report, containing a 10-year ... More >>
Candida Auris And Superbugs In Aotearoa – Expert Reaction
Friday, 31 March 2023, 11:57 am | Science Media Centre
The antifungal-resistant yeast Candida auris has been detected in New Zealand, adding to the list of germs that can resist treatment by our currently available medications. The World Health Organisation lists antimicrobial resistance as one of the top 10 ... More >>
Synthesising Everything We Know About Climate Change – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 21 March 2023, 4:14 pm | Science Media Centre
Not only are there feasible ways to cut down greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to human-caused climate change, but these actions can be taken right now, according to a major scientific report released today. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate ... More >>
Synthesising Everything We Know About Climate Change – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 21 March 2023, 4:13 pm | Science Media Centre
Not only are there feasible ways to cut down greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to human-caused climate change, but these actions can be taken right now, according to a major scientific report released today. The Intergovernmental Panel ... More >>
Rural Healthcare And Climate Change – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 16 March 2023, 3:24 pm | Science Media Centre
Vulnerabilities in rural healthcare services were exposed when Cyclone Gabrielle tore through the North Island last month. In the aftermath of the storm, reports have come through of a pregnant woman facing a three-hour drive to a birthing ... More >>
EPA Proposes Ban On PFAS In Cosmetics – Expert Reaction
Friday, 10 March 2023, 2:09 pm | Science Media Centre
The Environmental Protection Authority is seeking feedback on its proposed changes to the Cosmetics Products Group Standards, which contain rules around ingredients and labelling. The EPA proposes that New Zealand aligns its rules for ingredients ... More >>
Is Avian Influenza A Threat To Aotearoa? – Expert Reaction
Friday, 10 March 2023, 2:07 pm | Science Media Centre
The current international outbreak of avian flu is decimating wild birds, causing havoc for chicken farmers, and has even spilled over into several mammalian species – including our own. Could it come to NZ’s shores? And how worried should we ... More >>
A Treaty For The High Seas – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 8 March 2023, 1:35 pm | Science Media Centre
After almost 20 years of talks, United Nations member states have agreed on a legal framework for parts of the ocean outside national boundaries. The legal framework covers the establishment of vast marine protected areas to protect against ... More >>
Census Day Is Coming Up, So How Does Filling Out A Form Help Researchers Gain A Better Picture Of Aotearoa?
Saturday, 4 March 2023, 8:51 pm | Science Media Centre
Census Night is officially next Tuesday , so anyone in Aotearoa New Zealand that night needs to fill out a census form. This year’s census will be extended for areas impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. The SMC asked experts to break down why census ... More >>
The Science Of Fukushima’s Treated Nuclear Wastewater – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 1 March 2023, 2:59 pm | Science Media Centre
Japan has recently deferred plans to release more than one million tonnes of treated nuclear wastewater from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean until it is verifiably safe to do so. In March 2011, a magnitude 9.0 ... More >>
Omicron-specific Vaccine Approved For Over-30s – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 23 February 2023, 2:32 pm | Science Media Centre
Everyone in Aotearoa over 30 years old will be able to get the new Pfizer Covid-19 bivalent vaccine from the beginning of April. The bivalent vaccine uses components of two strains of the virus – the original strain of Covid-19, and the Omicron ... More >>
Disaster Fatigue As More Rain Forecast For Cyclone-hit Areas – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 23 February 2023, 2:29 pm | Science Media Centre
Metservice says there is a possibility of heavy rain in some of the cyclone-impacted areas over the rest of the week, and further cyclones in the wider South Pacific the coming weeks. It comes after areas of the North Island have been repeatedly hit ... More >>
Measles Case Confirmed In Auckland - Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 15 February 2023, 8:06 am | Science Media Centre
New Zealand’s first measles diagnosis since 2019 was announced last night – an Aucklander infected overseas. Though now isolating at home, the person had earlier attended events in the week to 11 February, including a Waikato festival, a Tauranga ... More >>
Telecommunications Taken Out By Cyclone Gabrielle - Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 14 February 2023, 11:26 am | Science Media Centre
Communications in the Tairāwhiti region are fully out this morning, cutting off the area from the rest of Aotearoa and affecting local disaster response. Satellite access has been provided to dairies in Northland so they can continue to sell essentials, ... More >>
What’s Fuelling Cyclone Gabrielle? – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 14 February 2023, 11:22 am | Science Media Centre
Warm oceans, warm air, La Niña conditions, and a changing climate have made for a summer of perfect storms – with Cyclone Gabrielle no exception. The extreme low pressure system is expected to continue to affect the North Island until at least ... More >>
The Impact Of Back-to-back Storms – Expert Reaction
Sunday, 12 February 2023, 2:23 pm | Science Media Centre
Red heavy rain and strong wind warnings are now in effect for much of the upper North Island, including Auckland, as Cyclone Gabrielle is already impacting northern parts of the country. This comes roughly ... More >>
