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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]
Bird Flu Found On Egg Farm In Otago – Expert Reaction
Monday, 2 December 2024, 6:28 pm | Science Media Centre
A ‘high pathogenic’ type of bird flu was confirmed in an Otago egg farm over the weekend. More >>
Negotiators Fail To Agree On A Global Plastics Treaty – Expert Reaction
Monday, 2 December 2024, 5:36 pm | Science Media Centre
Countries negotiating a global treaty to curb plastic pollution have failed to reach an agreement after a week of talks in Busan, South Korea. More >>
Learning From NZ’s Response To Covid-19 – Expert Reaction
Friday, 29 November 2024, 11:53 am | Science Media Centre
The over 700-page report was delivered to the Internal Affairs Minister and made publicly available this afternoon (28 Nov 2024). The report lists 39 recommendations to the government and its agencies, saying these recommendations should be “considered ... More >>
Radioactive Waste Storage In NZ – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 27 November 2024, 5:22 pm | Science Media Centre
The Ministry of Health redesignated a section of Defence Force land for the facility, which became operational earlier this year. The facility stores low-level and intermediate-level waste from agricultural, research, education, and health sectors. More >>
Final Negotiations For A Global Plastics Treaty – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 27 November 2024, 2:56 pm | Science Media Centre
More than 900 independent scientists have signed a declaration calling for an effective treaty to end plastic pollution by 2040. More >>
Cyclone Gabrielle's Impacts On NZ's Ecosystems - Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 26 November 2024, 12:48 pm | Science Media Centre
The symposium is part of the 2024 New Zealand Ecological Society Conference, where experts will speak on a wide variety of topics including Mātauranga Māori and ecology, how biological invasions misshape our world, Aotearoa’s own pekapeka/bats, and ... More >>
Climate Finance Commitments Triple At Close Of COP29 – Expert Reaction
Monday, 25 November 2024, 5:34 pm | Science Media Centre
The so-called “finance COP” in Baku, Azerbaijan has just concluded with agreement on the Baku Finance Goal. This aims to replace developed countries’ previous commitment to provide NZ$171 billion annually by 2020. More >>
Precautionary Approach To Puberty Blockers – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 21 November 2024, 6:02 pm | Science Media Centre
The Ministry has released an evidence brief which concludes there are limitations around the quality of evidence for both the benefits and risks of puberty blockers. More >>
Global Plastic Waste To Double By 2050, Study Says – Expert Reaction
Friday, 15 November 2024, 11:58 am | Science Media Centre
A new modelling study says global plastic waste will double by the middle of the century if we stick to business as usual. However, a mix of policies could slash it by 90%. More >>
What To Expect From COP29 – Expert Reaction
Monday, 11 November 2024, 3:59 pm | Science Media Centre
This year, COP29 provides a critical opportunity to galvanise global efforts for stronger national action on climate and health. More >>
Commonwealth Ocean Declaration - Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 29 October 2024, 8:32 pm | Science Media Centre
The declaration includes commitments to increasing marine protected areas, reducing plastic pollution and shipping emissions, and maintaining countries' maritime boundaries in the face of sea level rise. More >>
Police Withdrawing From Mental Health Calls - Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 29 October 2024, 8:28 pm | Science Media Centre
It's the first stage of their planned withdrawal from mental health 111 callouts. The next phase involves officers leaving sooner after handing over to health staff. More >>
Can Contact Sports Cause A Degenerative Brain Condition? – Expert Q&A
Thursday, 10 October 2024, 12:05 pm | Science Media Centre
Researchers are working to understand how often contact sports like rugby can lead to players developing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). The condition was called “punch drunk syndrome” nearly 100 years ago when scientists first noticed a link ... More >>
Mpox Vaccine Protection Wanes Within A Year – Expert Reaction
Friday, 4 October 2024, 2:58 pm | Science Media Centre
Researchers from Harvard Medical School found that mpox antibodies waned six to 12 months after immunisation, but that more research is needed to confirm this. More >>
Reforming Building Consents - Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 2 October 2024, 11:01 am | Science Media Centre
The options under consideration include reducing the number of Consent Authorities, as well as allowing building inspections to be done by private companies. More >>
Puberty Blocker Prescribing Rates In New Zealand – Expert Reaction
Friday, 27 September 2024, 1:23 pm | Science Media Centre
The study published in the NZMJ notes that the prescription rates had previously been rising since 2014. New Zealand rates were 1.7 times higher than the Netherlands by 2018, and 3.5-6.9 times higher than England and Wales up to 2020. More >>
COVID-19 Tests No Longer Free In NZ - Expert Reaction
Thursday, 26 September 2024, 3:32 pm | Science Media Centre
Te Whatu Ora says the free tests collected now will have a shelf life ranging from December 2025 to May 2027. From October, the tests will only be available for purchase. More >>
‘Widescale Harm’ Predicted From Microplastics Pollution – Expert Reaction
Friday, 20 September 2024, 11:14 am | Science Media Centre
A review of 20 years of microplastics research concludes that addressing the pollution problem, which could more than double by 2040, needs regulations that involve the public, social sciences, and natural sciences. More >>
Young Children Have A Different Immune Response To COVID – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 19 September 2024, 12:21 pm | Science Media Centre
Young children also had a distinctive response in the memory cells that ‘remember’ the virus after recovery. Older children had a response more similar to adults with mild COVID-19. More >>
Genetic Screening Valuable For Diagnosing Autism In Aotearoa – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 19 September 2024, 11:48 am | Science Media Centre
The authors say that having a conclusive genetic diagnosis can help with personalised healthcare, access to support services, and screening for co-occurring health conditions. More >>
