Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
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]
COP27 Comes To A Close – Expert Reaction
Monday, 21 November 2022, 2:13 pm | Science Media Centre
Wealthy countries attending the annual UN Climate Change Conference have agreed to fund poor and vulnerable nations that are experiencing some of the worst effects of a changing climate. However, there have been delays in approving a wider deal ... More >>
RMA Reforms Revealed – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 15 November 2022, 6:53 pm | Science Media Centre
The Government has introduced two bills meant to replace and simplify the Resource Management Act, one of the most complex pieces of law in New Zealand. The Natural and Built Environment Bill and the Spatial Planning Bill aim to speed up the resource ... More >>
Global Fossil Fuel Emissions Rise Above Pre-pandemic Levels – Expert Reaction
Friday, 11 November 2022, 5:53 pm | Science Media Centre
Global carbon emissions from fossil fuels are projected to increase by 1% in 2022, putting an end to the reductions made in 2020 – but could New Zealand buck the trend? This year’s annual Global Carbon Budget shows that New Zealand did not see ... More >>
Looking Ahead To COP27 - Expert Reaction
Thursday, 3 November 2022, 12:08 pm | Science Media Centre
The world will turn its attention to Egypt next week as government leaders, policymakers, and activists attend the latest UN Climate Change Conference. Goals for COP27 include emissions reduction, scaled-up adaptation efforts, and enhanced ... More >>
COVID-19 On A Cruise Ship – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 25 October 2022, 6:54 pm | Science Media Centre
Covid-19 cases have been confirmed on one of the first cruise ships to travel around the country in more than two years. Ovation of the Seas, carrying almost 5000 passengers and 1300 crew, sailed into Napier on Monday from Tahiti, and arrived in Wellington ... More >>
Will New Covid-19 Subvariants Fuel The Next Wave? – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 12 October 2022, 6:22 pm | Science Media Centre
A range of new Covid-19 subvariants are currently circulating overseas, and some have already reached our shores. With summer around the corner, the SMC asked experts to comment on what the Covid-19 landscape is looking like right now in other countries, ... More >>
The Basics Of NZ’s Water Infrastructure – Expert Reaction
Friday, 7 October 2022, 6:17 pm | Science Media Centre
What’s happening behind the scenes when drinking water gets to our taps or our wastewater is discharged – and how might climate change get in the way? The Science Media Centre asked experts to provide an overview and their thoughts on the current ... More >>
Community Transmission Of Monkeypox In New Zealand – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 6 October 2022, 6:01 pm | Science Media Centre
Two new cases of monkeypox have spread within New Zealand’s community, as opposed to previous cases where people were likely infected overseas. The two new cases are isolating in Auckland. There is currently no confirmed link between the two cases, ... More >>
Climate Change Could Widen Termite Habitats – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 27 September 2022, 2:14 pm | Science Media Centre
As the planet warms, termites could move further out of the tropics, decaying more wood and releasing more carbon dioxide like “tiny cows”, according to a new study in the journal Science. Three locations in New Zealand were included as study sites. ... More >>
Protecting NZ’s Most Productive Land – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 20 September 2022, 3:58 pm | Science Media Centre
The Government has released a National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL), with the aim of improving how we protect the country’s most productive farmland from residential development. Over the last 20 years, 170,000 hectares of ... More >>
Minimising Meth’s Harms – Expert Reaction
Monday, 5 September 2022, 11:28 am | Science Media Centre
A new report recommends several actions to reduce the harms of methamphetamine use in Aotearoa New Zealand, saying the evidence is clear that reducing supply alone doesn’t work. The report, commissioned by the Helen Clark Foundation and the New ... More >>
Omicron-specific Boosters – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 17 August 2022, 6:09 pm | Science Media Centre
The UK has become the first country to approve an Omicron-specific booster jab for Covid-19. The recently approved vaccine , made by Moderna, targets two different coronavirus variants – the original virus from 2020 and the Omicron variant The ... More >>
How Many New Zealanders Haven’t Caught Covid-19? – Expert Q&A
Wednesday, 17 August 2022, 10:24 am | Science Media Centre
New Zealand’s second Omicron wave might just be easing up, with the latest data showing we seem to be in a downward trend. So are those who never got Covid-19 now in the minority? The SMC asked experts about what the latest data say ... More >>
A Most Unusual Atmospheric River - Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 16 August 2022, 4:08 pm | Science Media Centre
A long-lived atmospheric river is landing on New Zealand shores today, which NIWA says could lead to “well over a month’s worth of rain” this week, especially in parts of the South Island. Atmospheric rivers occur year-round, but ... More >>
NZ's First Climate Adaptation Plan - Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 3 August 2022, 4:18 pm | Science Media Centre
The government has released its plan to deal with the rising seas, increasing heat and extreme weather that are predicted to come with a changing climate. The Climate Minister says the National Adaptation Plan will support community-led and Māori-led ... More >>
The Climate Commission’s Advice On The Emissions Trading Scheme – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 27 July 2022, 3:19 pm | Science Media Centre
The Climate Change Commission is recommending improvements be made to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The Commission says the government should reduce the amount of emissions allowed by the scheme, as well as updated price control settings to ... More >>
Monkeypox: A Global Health Emergency - Expert Q&A
Wednesday, 27 July 2022, 3:08 pm | Science Media Centre
The World Health Organisation has declared monkeypox a global public health emergency, but says the outbreak can be stopped. There have been more than 16,000 confirmed cases of monkeypox in more than 75 countries, but the WHO suspects the true number ... More >>
Covid-19 Death Reporting Changes – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 20 July 2022, 9:49 am | Science Media Centre
NZ’s Covid-19 statistics will become more accurate as the Ministry of Health starts reporting deaths where the virus is the underlying or contributing cause. The Ministry previously recorded all deaths within 28 days of a positive test, plus any death ... More >>
Covid Jabs And Menstrual Changes – Expert Reaction
Saturday, 16 July 2022, 6:24 pm | Science Media Centre
More than 40% of people who have regular periods reported bleeding heavier than usual after getting a Covid-19 vaccination, according to a web survey of more than 39,000 adults. The US research, published in Science Advances , is an exploratory ... More >>
Free Masks And RATs Ahead Of The Winter Covid-19 Peak – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 14 July 2022, 2:38 pm | Science Media Centre
Rapid Antigen Tests and masks will be free for all, and more people will be able to access antivirals, as the government gears up for a winter Covid-19 peak. Antiviral medications Paxlovid, molnupiravir, and remdesivir will be funded for a wider group ... More >>
