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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 14]
Monkeypox Cases Spreading Overseas - Expert Reaction
Friday, 20 May 2022, 1:46 pm | Science Media Centre
The monkeypox virus, which causes fever symptoms and rashes, has been detected in countries across Europe and North America. The virus occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa - but now dozens of confirmed ... More >>
Emissions Reduction Plan – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 17 May 2022, 12:51 pm | Science Media Centre
The government has released its first plan on how to get to zero carbon emissions by 2050. The Emissions Reduction Plan proposes economy-wide changes to drive down New Zealand’s emissions. The SMC asked experts to comment on: An overview of the ... More >>
Forecasting The Next Five Years Of The COVID-19 Crisis – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 17 May 2022, 12:51 pm | Science Media Centre
An international report predicts the Covid-19 pandemic is likely to be a society-wide crisis of growing inequalities that span far beyond the health sector. The International Science Council report (to which Sir Peter Gluckman and Sir David Skegg contributed) ... More >>
Catching Covid-19 More Than Once – Expert Q&A
Thursday, 5 May 2022, 12:14 pm | Science Media Centre
New Covid-19 variants and waning immunity could see more New Zealanders catching the virus for a second time. As we head further from the peak of the vaccine campaign and the Omicron outbreak, people’s immunity will eventually start to wane . The ... More >>
Mycoplasma Bovis Nearly Eradicated - Expert Reaction
Thursday, 5 May 2022, 12:13 pm | Science Media Centre
The cattle disease which arrived in New Zealand nearly five years ago has been reduced down to a single farm. It comes after a world-first eradication campaign involving the culling of thousands of cattle, which MPI has described as one of its biggest-ever ... More >>
NZ Sea Levels May Rise Twice As Fast As Thought – Expert Reaction
Monday, 2 May 2022, 10:56 am | Science Media Centre
Sea-level rise in our biggest urban areas may happen two to three decades earlier than expected, fresh projections suggest. Scientists from the NZ SeaRise programme have designed a new online tool that shows sea-level rise projections by ... More >>
New Water Organisations To Be Owned Locally – Expert Reaction
Friday, 29 April 2022, 4:51 pm | Science Media Centre
Local councils will own the proposed four new water entities – and local voices will be strengthened, the government has confirmed today. As part of transforming how the three waters services are managed, the government has responded to a working ... More >>
Urgent Need To Restore Land And Forests – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 28 April 2022, 3:12 pm | Science Media Centre
Up to 40% of the world’s land is degraded, says a major UN assessment of how countries manage and use land resources – soil, water and biodiversity. The report says that restoring land, soils and forests could contribute more than one-third of what’s ... More >>
Blueprint To Adapt To A Warmer World – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 27 April 2022, 5:38 pm | Science Media Centre
The government’s first formal plan for adapting to climate change – including effects like floods, fire, drought and sea-level rise – is now out for public feedback. This first step brings together what’s being done already and what could be done ... More >>
A Plan To Save Nature Within 30 Years – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 21 April 2022, 3:47 pm | Science Media Centre
Efforts to safeguard New Zealand’s native plants and wildlife are spelled out in a newly-launched government plan, including easing tourism impacts and more coordination and community-led activities. The Conservation Minister says 4000 species ... More >>
Sorting Out Our Supply Chain Woes – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 20 April 2022, 5:33 pm | Science Media Centre
Major challenges facing New Zealand’s freight and supply chain system are laid out in a paper released today for public consultation. The government paper says we’re unlikely to return to a pre-pandemic working environment, and suggests various ... More >>
The State Of The Environment In Aotearoa – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 14 April 2022, 4:17 pm | Science Media Centre
A triennial report on the state of the environment has changed the way it reports its findings, drawing more on mātauranga Māori and exploring the link between the environment and our wellbeing. This year’s Environment Aotearoa 2022 ... More >>
NZ Moves To The Orange Traffic Light Setting – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 13 April 2022, 5:17 pm | Science Media Centre
Indoor gathering limits and seating requirements will be removed when the country moves to Orange at 11:59pm tonight. The Orange setting lifts some masking requirements. They will now be encouraged in schools, for example, but will still be required for ... More >>
Ruapehu Unrest Heightens - Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 13 April 2022, 2:45 pm | Science Media Centre
Mt Ruapehu’s crater lake is belching CO at the second highest level ever recorded at the site. GNS says the changes suggest magma may now be driving the unrest, increasing the chances of further volcanic activity – however an eruption ... More >>
New Covid-19 Variant XE May Be More Transmissible – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 6 April 2022, 10:47 am | Science Media Centre
The World Health Organization is warning of a new Covid-19 variant that may be more transmissible than Omicron BA.2. XE is potentially 10 per cent more transmissible than BA.2, and was first detected in the UK in January. Director-General of Health ... More >>
NZ Tops World For Melanoma Deaths – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 31 March 2022, 9:47 am | Science Media Centre
New Zealand had the highest melanoma death rate in 2020, according to a new study in JAMA Dermatology, which also predicts cases will rise 50 per cent globally by 2040. The study authors took a look at the global burden of melanoma, estimating ... More >>
The Return Of The Flu – Expert Q&A
Thursday, 31 March 2022, 9:46 am | Science Media Centre
New Zealand is preparing itself against the arrival of influenza and other viruses as the country continues to reopen its borders this autumn. The Government will launch its winter flu campaign on Friday. Director of Public Health Dr Caroline McElnay ... More >>
Most Vaccine Mandates To Be Lifted – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 23 March 2022, 5:20 pm | Science Media Centre
Vaccine mandates, pass use, and QR code scanning are being rolled back as New Zealand nears and moves past the Omicron peak. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced this morning that all vaccine mandates will be removed from April 4 , except for health ... More >>
Two Years Since NZ First Locked Down – Expert Reaction
Monday, 21 March 2022, 12:14 pm | Science Media Centre
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Aotearoa would enter strict lockdown on 23 March 2020 – two years ago this week. The Prime Minister’s speech signalled the start of the country’s elimination approach to COVID-19, giving two days’ ... More >>
Covid-19 School Spread Speeds Up – Expert Reaction
Monday, 21 March 2022, 9:23 am | Science Media Centre
Three in four New Zealand schools are dealing with active Covid-19 cases, and there has been a 40% rise in reported school infections since Monday. Yesterday the Education Ministry reported more than 64,500 cases in schools, kura and early childhood centres ... More >>
