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]
New Zealand’s Fragmenting Farmlands – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 15 April 2021, 2:48 pm | Science Media Centre
New Zealand’s highly productive farmlands have been decreasing over the last two decades as residential developments such as lifestyle blocks grow, according to a new report. Our land 2021 says the area of highly productive land that was unavailable ... More >>
Covid-19 Vaccine Safety Monitoring In NZ – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 7 April 2021, 4:54 pm | Science Media Centre
New Zealand’s medicines regulator has published its first report on adverse reactions experienced by New Zealanders getting the Pfizer Covid-19 jab. There were three serious cases reported out of the more than 15,000 doses given from 20 February to 6 March. ... More >>
Trans-Tasman Travel Bubble To Open - Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 6 April 2021, 6:05 pm | Science Media Centre
Quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand will resume in two weeks . The government has devised a traffic light system to managing the bubble should any cases appear over the ditch. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said they are taking ... More >>
NZ's Most Covid-vulnerable Areas - Expert Reaction
Thursday, 1 April 2021, 5:29 am | Science Media Centre
Kiwi researchers have created maps of the country showing each region’s vulnerability to Covid-19. They took into account Covid-19 risk factors like age, population density, and long-term health conditions - as well as ethnicity and awareness of health services. ... More >>
MIQ Worker Tests Positive After Vaccination – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 23 March 2021, 4:41 pm | Science Media Centre
A managed isolation and quarantine worker (MIQ) worker has tested positive for Covid-19 after receiving their second vaccine dose. The worker – a cleaner at the Grand Millennium Hotel in Auckland – was identified through a routine swab test on Monday. ... More >>
The Future Of Commercial Fisheries - Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 23 March 2021, 1:43 pm | Science Media Centre
The Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor has released a new report into New Zealand’s fisheries management system. The recommendations include adopting a whole-ecosystem approach to fisheries management, creating an Oceans Strategic Action Plan for 2040 ... More >>
Covid-19 Vaccine Media Hub Opens To Help Journalists Fight Misinformation
Thursday, 18 March 2021, 10:09 am | Science Media Centre
Journalists and fact-checkers have a new tool in the fight against COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, with a dedicated support service thanks to a global alliance of Science Media Centres and public health experts. The Covid-19 Vaccine Media Hub will be continuously ... More >>
Reducing The Cost Of Type 2 Diabetes – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 16 March 2021, 10:39 am | Science Media Centre
More young people are expected to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes over the next twenty years, contributing to more than a billion dollar rise in the public cost of the disease, a new report states. The multi-agency report outlines the growing ... More >>
European Countries Put AstraZeneca Vaccine On Pause – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 16 March 2021, 9:38 am | Science Media Centre
Ireland has joined a growing list of European countries pausing their use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine after reports of blood clotting. The vaccine manufacturer says its review of the reports show the jab does not increase the risk ... More >>
Japan's Devastating Tsunami, Ten Years On - Expert Reaction
Friday, 12 March 2021, 2:53 pm | Science Media Centre
Ten years ago, the fourth strongest earthquake on record struck off the coast of the Tōhoku region of Japan, sending a massive tsunami towards the island nation. New research reviews the massively fatal event with ten years worth of data and perspective. ... More >>
Priority Groups For Covid-19 Vaccine - Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 10 March 2021, 4:56 pm | Science Media Centre
Those at high risk of Covid-19 in south Auckland and certain aged care facilities will be priorities for the vaccine roll-out after border and frontline healthcare workers. Following this group will be over-65s and people with underlying health ... More >>
Aviation Worker Tests Positive For Covid-19 Shortly After Vaccination – Expert Reaction
Monday, 8 March 2021, 1:37 pm | Science Media Centre
An Air New Zealand flight attendant tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday, shortly after receiving a shot of the Pfizer vaccine. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said this morning the vaccine takes a couple of weeks to work, so they wouldn't have ... More >>
Three Big Earthquakes In One Morning - Expert Reaction
Friday, 5 March 2021, 5:25 pm | Science Media Centre
Coastal communities are returning home after a morning spent on alert for tsunamis triggered by significant marine earthquakes. The three significant earthquakes that took place over the course of this morning triggered tsunami alerts across the Pacific, ... More >>
Protecting Globe-trotting Seabirds – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 4 March 2021, 12:19 pm | Science Media Centre
New research is highlighting the need for internationally-minded policies to protect albatrosses and large petrels, as they regularly fly in and out of danger on the high seas. The research , which includes New Zealand data, tracks more than 5,000 ... More >>
Young Adults And Risk-taking - Expert Q&A
Tuesday, 2 March 2021, 12:57 pm | Science Media Centre
The recently announced community cases of COVID-19 includes a young adult who visited several places while potentially infectious. Yesterday, the Manukau Institute of Technology – where the person attended classes – asked the public for kindness ... More >>
Mandatory Masks On Public Transport - Expert Reaction
Monday, 22 February 2021, 4:33 pm | Science Media Centre
The nationwide rules around wearing face masks on public transport at Alert Level 1 will remain in place permanently. It comes as Auckland joins the rest of the nation at Alert Level 1 at midnight tonight . It’s been a week since the Alert Level went ... More >>
Rolling Out The Covid-19 Vaccine - Expert Reaction
Friday, 19 February 2021, 6:53 pm | Science Media Centre
Vaccinators are expected to be the first people in New Zealand to get the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 jab today. Border and MIQ workers and their families will start getting vaccinations tomorrow, with the government planning to immunise thousands by mid-March ... More >>
Perseverance Rover Lands On Mars – Expert Reaction
Friday, 19 February 2021, 6:51 pm | Science Media Centre
NASA has landed a car-sized rover on the red planet to search for signs of past life. The vehicle has more instruments than the four rovers preceding it, and it’s also carrying gear that could help pave the way for human exploration of Mars. The ... More >>
Lead Scare In East Otago Drinking Water – Expert Reaction
Friday, 19 February 2021, 6:48 pm | Science Media Centre
Blood test results show elevated lead levels in some Waikouaiti, Karitane, and Hawksbury residents, including children. The tests were conducted after the highly poisonous heavy metal was found to be 39 times the acceptable limit in a drinking water sample. ... More >>
Making Tourism Sustainable Post-Covid – Expert Reaction
Friday, 19 February 2021, 6:46 pm | Science Media Centre
A tax on NZ tourists leaving the country, and tougher rules for car rental agencies, are two things the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has suggested could make tourism more sustainable. Other recommendations include requiring new tourism ... More >>
