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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 15]
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 >>
Covid-19 School Spread Speeds Up – Expert Reaction
Friday, 18 March 2022, 6:14 pm | 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 >>
Are Covid-19 Treatments Working? – Expert Q&A
Wednesday, 16 March 2022, 6:54 pm | Science Media Centre
Timely treatment for Covid-19 is front of mind for many people, in light of NZ’s mounting hospitalisation and death statistics. Now that Aotearoa has 960 people in hospital and a steepening death curve from ... More >>
Tourists To Arrive Within Weeks – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 16 March 2022, 6:52 pm | Science Media Centre
New Zealand’s doors to the world will widen earlier than expected – from mid-April for Australia. The country’s border is set to open for tourists and others from Australia without residence visas from midnight 12 April , and travellers ... More >>
Could NZ Limit Long Covid? – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 10 March 2022, 7:23 am | Science Media Centre
The later arrival of Omicron in Aotearoa means we have watched the impact of long Covid in other countries including Australia. Developing after Covid-19 infection and lasting for three months or more, Long ... More >>
Covid Quarantine Cut To A Week – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 9 March 2022, 6:01 pm | Science Media Centre
The timeframe for mandatory self-isolation will soon drop to a week as the Omicron outbreak grows. Starting from Saturday, people who test positive to Covid-19 – and their household – will have to isolate for a 7-day period, down from ten days. ... More >>
Tracking The True Spread Of Covid – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 9 March 2022, 5:58 pm | Science Media Centre
Scientists have had to adapt to track trends in the Omicron outbreak, as infections soar across Aotearoa. Now that the Health Ministry cautions against relying on the daily Covid case count to estimate virus spread, what can alternative data tell us? ... More >>
Are We Overlooking Hazardous Chemicals In The Environment? - Expert Reaction
Thursday, 3 March 2022, 2:36 pm | Science Media Centre
There are gaps in how we monitor chemicals in the environment and how we interpret their impact on living things, finds a report from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. The report looks at neonicotinoid insecticides, antibiotics, ... More >>
Superbugs Set To Make Common Drugs And Treatments Less Effective
Thursday, 3 March 2022, 11:46 am | Science Media Centre
As germs become more resistant to antimicrobial drugs, infections will become less treatable, and treatments that compromise immunity – like chemotherapy – will become more risky, according to a new report by the Prime Minister’s Chief Science ... More >>
Nations Make Historic Commitment To Tackle Plastic Pollution
Thursday, 3 March 2022, 11:35 am | Science Media Centre
The international community has agreed to end plastic pollution and draft a legally-binding treaty by 2024. Overnight, New Zealand time, representatives from 175 nations at the UN Environment Assembly in Kenya endorsed the historic resolution. The legally-binding ... More >>
Phase 3 Shakes Up The Pandemic Response - Expert Reaction
Thursday, 24 February 2022, 4:55 pm | Science Media Centre
With more than 6,000 cases of Covid-19 recorded today, the gears are shifting on the Omicron outbreak in New Zealand, and so is the government's response. After the move to Phase 3 at midnight, close contacts will no longer be required to isolate ... More >>
Managing Covid-19 At Home – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 16 February 2022, 4:23 pm | Science Media Centre
With Phase Two now in effect, health authorities have detailed how most people with Covid will manage their infections at home as the health system focuses more on those at greater risk of severe illness. As daily case numbers continue to rise , digital ... More >>
