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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 1]
AI May Soon Help Read Mammograms In NZ – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 27 May 2026, 3:34 pm | Science Media Centre
The tool will ease clinician workloads by doing one of the two independent reads currently required during mammogram assessment, the government says. More >>
UN Member Countries Are Legally Responsible For Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 21 May 2026, 4:47 pm | Science Media Centre
The resolution was originally proposed by Vanuatu and co-sponsored by New Zealand in 2023. More >>
UN Member Countries Are Legally Responsible For Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 21 May 2026, 4:47 pm | Science Media Centre
The resolution was originally proposed by Vanuatu and co-sponsored by New Zealand in 2023. More >>
Chicks Hatch From Artificial Egg, In A First Step Towards Moa 'De-Extinction' - Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 20 May 2026, 9:46 am | Science Media Centre
This technology is a valuable tool, that when combined with genome engineering techniques still in development, may be able to reverse the impacts of inbreeding on low hatching success for example. More >>
Govt Changes Law To Halt Climate Lawsuits – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 13 May 2026, 3:01 pm | Science Media Centre
The move will affect all current and future court cases, including Smith v Fonterra and others, set to return to the High Court next year. More >>
Lead Pipes Banned For New Plumbing – Expert Reaction
Friday, 1 May 2026, 5:07 pm | Science Media Centre
The change is intended to improve the safety of drinking water in NZ, and marks the end of a transitionary period first signaled to the plumbing industry in 2022. More >>
"Formidable" El Niño Expected - Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 29 April 2026, 11:00 am | Science Media Centre
Earth Sciences New Zealand meteorologists say there is a greater than 60% probability that the event will be classified as ‘strong’ by spring, with the potential to intensify further later in the year. More >>
The Govt’s Plan To Improve Biodiversity – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 23 April 2026, 3:37 pm | Science Media Centre
The implementation strategy is much more focused on talk than on action, which is surprising for an implementation document, an expert said. More >>
2025 One Of The Hottest Years On Record - Expert Reaction
Monday, 23 March 2026, 6:56 pm | Science Media Centre
The report reinforces the urgency to build on our adaptation work, and highlights that adaptation is no longer optional or nice-to-have, says Drew Bingham. More >>
Trapped Air The Likely Cause Of Moa Point Failure - Expert Reaction
Monday, 23 March 2026, 1:05 pm | Science Media Centre
The bigger and perhaps less reported issue NZ needs to deal with are hundreds of systems that are still discharging into NZs waterways without any disinfection at all, says Professor Andy Shilton. More >>
How To Deal With Skyrocketing Fuel Prices – Expert Reaction
Monday, 23 March 2026, 12:59 pm | Science Media Centre
Given the current uncertainty, what the Government needs to do urgently is to run a national education campaign to inform drivers how they can save both fuel and money, says Emeritus Professor Ralph Sims. More >>
Obesity Linked To Severe Infection Risk – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 10 February 2026, 1:40 pm | Science Media Centre
Based on global data, the paper estimates that roughly 10% of infection-related deaths worldwide could be linked with obesity, and that this increased to 15% during the COVID pandemic. More >>
Moa Point Wastewater Plant Shuts Down – Expert Reaction
Monday, 9 February 2026, 7:45 pm | Science Media Centre
It could be months before the plant is fully repaired, and before people can go swimming at south coast beaches. More >>
NZ’s Critical Minerals On The World Stage – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 5 February 2026, 5:07 pm | Science Media Centre
The NZ government released a new critical minerals list and strategy last year, which included a goal to double mineral exports by 2035. More >>
Transgender And Cisgender Women Have Similar Physical Fitness – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 5 February 2026, 5:00 pm | Science Media Centre
The systematic review and analysis by overseas scientists in British Journal of Sports Medicine looked at data on body composition – fat and muscle mass – and physical fitness of trans and cisgender people. More >>
Shifting Power Use To Off-Peak Hours Could Save NZ $3 Billion - Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 27 January 2026, 1:41 pm | Science Media Centre
“Strategies like ‘demand-side flexibility’, as proposed in this report, have been widely touted as ways to increase value for electricity retailers and industrial customers in Aotearoa New Zealand for a couple of decades now." More >>
Parts Of North Island Hit By Record-Breaking Rains – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 22 January 2026, 6:04 pm | Science Media Centre
Whitianga and Tauranga experienced their wettest days on record yesterday, with 247.6 mm and 274 mm of rain, respectively. More >>
Crayfish Catch Ban Floated To Protect Kelp Forests – Expert Reaction
Friday, 19 December 2025, 2:45 pm | Science Media Centre
Rock lobsters (better known as kōura and crayfish) are a natural predator of sea urchins, which can overgraze the kelp, leading to barren rocky reefs. More >>
Glyphosate Safety Paper Retracted After 25 Years – Expert Reaction
Friday, 12 December 2025, 11:51 am | Science Media Centre
A New Zealand-based scientist formally requested the retraction. The Science Media Centre asked him to comment, alongside pesticide experts who comment on the overall state of the evidence. More >>
Australia’s Teen Social Media Ban Takes Effect – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 10 December 2025, 5:35 pm | Science Media Centre
The European Parliament passed a similar resolution last month, and in New Zealand a private members bill was put into the biscuit tin in May. The SMC asked NZ experts in law, youth mental health, and tech to comment. More >>
