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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]
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 >>
Self-isolation Rules For International Travellers – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 16 February 2022, 4:22 pm | Science Media Centre
The Government has released details on how people overseas will be able to travel to New Zealand without a stay in a managed isolation facility. Starting at the end of February, vaccinated Kiwis coming in from Australia will be able to skip MIQ provided ... More >>
New Zealand Will Enter Phase Two Of Its Public Health Response To The Omicron Outbreak Tomorrow Night
Monday, 14 February 2022, 7:09 pm | Science Media Centre
The shift is in response to growing numbers of Covid-19 cases, with 981 new community cases announced today. Today also marked a record high rate of positive tests returned, with 5.6 per cent of the 17,616 swabs returning positive results for Covid-19. Phase ... More >>
Steep Hike In Covid Cases – Expert Reaction
Monday, 14 February 2022, 10:24 am | Science Media Centre
The Ministry of Health reported 810 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday – a large rise on the previous day's record 454 cases. The expected uptick in confirmed cases is almost double the seven-day rolling average of 432 cases. People who have tested ... More >>
Emissions Dropped Over Delta Lockdown – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 10 February 2022, 3:49 pm | Science Media Centre
Greenhouse gas emissions from certain sectors fell 11 per cent over the September 2021 quarter according to new Stats NZ figures, with Covid-19 restrictions taking place during the second half of the period. While the lockdown contributed to the ... More >>
What’s The Latest On Covid-19 Immunity? – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 10 February 2022, 3:28 pm | Science Media Centre
As Kiwis continue to get booster doses against Covid-19, the SMC checked in with experts for the latest on how immunity changes over time, peak immunity, and the future of boosting. Associate Professor Helen Petousis-Harris, Vaccinologist, University ... More >>
Critical Workers To Bypass Home Isolation – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 10 February 2022, 3:26 pm | Science Media Centre
Close contacts of Covid-19 cases will be exempt from home isolation rules if they’re working in a critical sector and test negative via rapid antigen testing, as part of a newly announced exemption scheme. It will be up to businesses to assess whether ... More >>
Fresh Outbreaks Arise In Pacific Nations – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 3 February 2022, 4:10 pm | Science Media Centre
After successfully holding Covid-19 at bay, some Pacific Island countries now face new outbreaks – including Omicron spread. Yesterday Omicron was confirmed in Kiribati , which currently has more than 600 cases . This week Tonga reported five Covid cases ... More >>
Gradual Reopening Of NZ From Late Feb – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 3 February 2022, 4:09 pm | Science Media Centre
Aotearoa New Zealand’s border with the world will be opened up in phases, with a five-step plan to prioritise returning Kiwis. Vaccinated New Zealanders from Australia will be welcomed without an MIQ stay from midnight on 27 February, the Prime Minister ... More >>
Booster Gap Shortened To Three Months – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 2 February 2022, 4:39 pm | Science Media Centre
Booster doses of the Covid-19 vaccine will be available to anyone who has had at least a three-month gap since their second vaccine dose. Replacing the current four-month lag, the changes take effect this Friday. This means over three ... More >>
