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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]
Nepal-Tibet Flash Flooding – Expert Reaction
Monday, 31 August 2026, 5:18 pm | Science Media Centre
An ‘ice avalanche’ from a glacier is thought to have triggered flash flooding at the Nepal-Tibet border. The SMC asked landslide, river, and glacier experts to comment. More >>
How Should NZ Manage Its Plastic Problem? – Expert Reaction
Monday, 31 August 2026, 5:13 pm | Science Media Centre
While NZ has banned some single-use plastics, a long-delayed ban on hard-to-recycle food and drink packaging is reportedly being shelved. More >>
Using DNA Clues To Trace Invasive Hornets – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 27 August 2026, 11:34 am | Science Media Centre
The hornets haven’t been detected since this April, but any queens that have mated could soon come out of winter hibernation. More >>
Bill To Ban NZ Kids From Social Media – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 27 August 2026, 10:56 am | Science Media Centre
The Bill covers ‘age-restricted platforms’ like TikTok and Facebook, as well as AI ‘social companions’ – and excludes gaming and messaging services like Roblox or Discord. More >>
Mt Maunganui Landslide Review Finds System Failure – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 20 August 2026, 9:14 am | Science Media Centre
The review says the failure was not the fault of one person, but of a system that allowed an identified risk to life to remain unmanaged. More >>
Climate Liability Bill Passes Final Reading – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 19 August 2026, 1:36 pm | Science Media Centre
“For years to come, New Zealand’s record for investment stability and rule of law will be affected by this direct interference in proceedings before the courts.” More >>
Science & Social Sciences Curriculum Updated – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 12:57 pm | Science Media Centre NZ
“Compared to the draft version of the curriculum, the final version has clearer emphasis on conceptual knowledge and some reduction in content," says Christopher Burns, School of Education, Faculty of Culture & Society, AUT. More >>
Pets’ Flea Meds Poison Freshwater Critters – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 6 August 2026, 10:43 am | Science Media Centre
Given the meds’ toxicity, especially in water environments, and lack of information on how they affect humans, it recommends restrictions until their impact is measured. More >>
What NZ’s Electrical Grid Might Look Like In 2050 – Expert Reaction
Monday, 3 August 2026, 1:07 pm | Science Media Centre NZ
Batteries and smart appliances could help save NZ’s energy users billions of dollars in energy demand, allowing sectors like road transport to more fully electrify, according to a new report. More >>
NZ’s Climate Goals Off-Track – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 23 July 2026, 4:31 pm | Science Media Centre
Farming, electricity, and transport are the biggest risks to emissions budgets, the Climate Change Commission’s report says. More >>
Te Anau Quakes And Tsunami Alert – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 23 July 2026, 4:22 pm | Science Media Centre
The tsunami warning, issued for Milford Sound to Puysegur Point, was downgraded then cancelled after an early estimate of the earthquake magnitude was revised down. More >>
Native Bird Tests Positive For Bird Flu – Expert Reaction
Friday, 17 July 2026, 5:26 pm | Science Media Centre
The kāhu (swamp harrier hawk) – found in the Wairarapa – is the second case of bird flu in NZ and the first in a native bird. More >>
Should NZ Copy Australia’s ‘Office Of AI’? – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 16 July 2026, 2:07 pm | Science Media Centre
“The Australian government’s announcement of a new, central Office of AI, to sit in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, is a welcome move that will provide clarity and guidance for businesses and communities," says Professor Lisa ... More >>
Bird Flu Lands In NZ – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 16 July 2026, 1:55 pm | Science Media Centre
The public is being asked to report sick or dead birds, and to avoid touching them. More >>
Pacific Coral Reef Plight Takes Centre-Stage – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 15 July 2026, 11:18 am | Science Media Centre
“Approximately 26% of the world’s coral reefs are located in the Pacific Ocean, where climate change and other human pressures are increasingly threatening reef ecosystems and the communities that depend on them." More >>
Tiny Plastics In Blood Linked To Heart Attacks – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 15 July 2026, 11:00 am | Science Media Centre
Looking at about 60 people, scientists found the tiny plastics in the blood of 30% of healthy participants, and 40% of heart disease patients who hadn’t had a heart attack. More >>
NZ Prepares For The Threat Of Bird Flu – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 7 July 2026, 3:43 pm | Science Media Centre
No cases have yet been confirmed in NZ, but organisations are preparing for its possible arrival. More >>
2025 Was The 2nd-Warmest Year On Record For The South-West Pacific – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 7 July 2026, 3:36 pm | Science Media Centre
Many of these changes impacted NZ, which also had below-average amounts of snow on South Island mountains. More >>
The Collective Effort For Sustainable Farming In The Pacific – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 7 July 2026, 3:33 pm | Science Media Centre
The Fiji International Landcare and Sustainable Agriculture Conference 2026 aims to bring together diverse hands and voices from across the Indo-Pacific. More >>
El Niño May Bring Drought And Fires To NZ – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 2 July 2026, 10:39 am | Science Media Centre
El Niño has been declared in the tropical Pacific, and is expected to intensify into one of the strongest on record. More >>
