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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 19]
Rapid Antigen Tests Get The Go-ahead
Thursday, 7 October 2021, 4:01 pm | Science Media Centre
A green light for rapid antigen testing and wider saliva testing are among large-scale changes to the country’s Covid-19 testing approach. Rapid antigen testing – which can detect the virus in 15 mins – will be piloted in Auckland ... More >>
Study Links Antarctic Ice Records With Early Māori Settlement – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 7 October 2021, 3:53 pm | Science Media Centre
An overseas research team has studied Antarctic ice core records, finding a threefold increase in black carbon during the past 700 years. The newly published paper suggests a link back to wildfire burns during early Māori settlement of Aotearoa. ... More >>
Delta Spreads Beyond Level 3 Border – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 7 October 2021, 10:34 am | Science Media Centre
Two new Covid cases are reported today from outside Waikato’s Alert Level 3 boundary – in areas currently under level 2 rules. The two infected people are in Kāwhia and Karāpiro – located respectively south of Raglan, and near Cambridge. No change ... More >>
What The 3-step Plan Means For The Rest Of NZ – Expert Q&A
Wednesday, 6 October 2021, 9:22 am | Science Media Centre
Some of Auckland’s Covid constraints will be eased over time in a three-step plan, starting from midnight Tuesday. But will this increase the Covid risk for the rest of Aotearoa? Will the Level 2 restrictions outside of Auckland and parts of Waikato ... More >>
Covid Vaccine Pass For Large Events – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 6 October 2021, 9:20 am | Science Media Centre
A vaccine certificate will be needed to get into large events this summer, from as early as November. The pass will be mandatory for high-risk settings like music festivals, and possibly some hospitality venues. The Prime Minister has ruled out ... More >>
Staged Easing Of Auckland’s Restrictions – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 5 October 2021, 12:43 pm | Science Media Centre
Aucklanders are to stay in Alert Level 3, but some restrictions will be eased over time in a three-step plan, starting from tomorrow. Up to 10 masked people from two households can mingle outdoors in the first stage. Early childhood education, recreation, ... More >>
‘Very High’ Vaccination Rate Needed To End Lockdowns – Expert Reaction
Friday, 24 September 2021, 9:28 am | Science Media Centre
A new modelling paper says that New Zealand may no longer need lockdowns if we vaccinate 90 per cent of the population. The paper authors say moderate public health measures like mask use and gathering restrictions may even have to remain at this high rate ... More >>
$36 million to study infectious diseases – Expert Reaction
Monday, 20 September 2021, 9:14 am | Science Media Centre
New funding for infectious disease research – aiming to aid Aotearoa’s Covid-19 response and preparation for future pandemics – was announced at Sunday's 1 pm update. The Government will invest $36 million over three years in a new platform, ... More >>
Arthritis drug funded to treat Covid-19 – Expert Reaction
Friday, 17 September 2021, 9:11 am | Science Media Centre
Arthritis drug tocilizumab will now be funded to treat patients with moderate to severe cases of Covid-19. The drug is facing massive demand around the world , with its manufacturer Roche no longer able to supply New Zealand with the drug for the ... More >>
Understanding DDoS cyber attacks – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 15 September 2021, 2:21 pm | Science Media Centre
Cyber attacks have hit several New Zealand organisations this month, disrupting their online services. The Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks were the same kind of cyber attack that affected the NZX around this time last year. The SMC ... More >>
What Do We Know About The Novavax Vaccine? – Expert Q&A
Tuesday, 14 September 2021, 5:14 pm | Science Media Centre
The Novavax vaccine is the remaining Covid-19 jab among the Government’s pre-purchase agreements that’s under review by Medsafe, with doses expected to arrive early next year. Medicines regulator Medsafe approved the three other vaccines in the Government’s ... More >>
Same Alert Levels To Continue For Another Week – Expert Reaction
Monday, 13 September 2021, 6:23 pm | Science Media Centre
New Zealand’s current alert level settings will stay the course for another week as “mystery cases” of Covid-19 still emerge in Auckland. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Auckland will stay in Alert Level 4 until next Tuesday night, and – ... More >>
Unlinked cases under the spotlight – Expert Reaction
Monday, 13 September 2021, 10:39 am | Science Media Centre
Twenty new community cases were reported on Sunday, including eight cases yet to be linked. In total, 34 unlinked cases remain in this delta outbreak – including the eight from Sunday. Three sub-clusters remain where officials have concerns about ... More >>
Extra Pfizer vaccines due tomorrow - Expert Reaction
Thursday, 9 September 2021, 3:06 pm | Science Media Centre
New Zealand has topped up its Covid-19 vaccine supply with more than 250,000 additional doses purchased from Spain to meet high demand for vaccination. The extra doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine are currently en route, due to arrive in Auckland tomorrow ... More >>
Kākāpō in good genetic health despite inbreeding
Thursday, 9 September 2021, 11:15 am | Science Media Centre
Analysis of almost 50 kākāpō genomes has found the current population on Rakiura/Stewart Island is more in-bred – but shows fewer harmful mutations – than a now-extinct mainland population. One explanation is that Rakiura kākāpō may have “purged” ... More >>
The Best Tests For This Delta Outbreak – Expert Q&A
Wednesday, 8 September 2021, 6:52 pm | Science Media Centre
The place of testing in our current Covid-19 response is being widely discussed – but which tests are best: PCR or rapid antigen? Saliva or nasal swab? Essential workers transiting in and out of Auckland will have to be tested weekly and the Government ... More >>
Back To School Under ‘Delta Level 2’ – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 8 September 2021, 6:38 pm | Science Media Centre
Public schools outside Auckland will be re-opening tomorrow under revised Alert Level 2 settings, which encourage tamariki over the age of 12 to wear masks, but don’t require it. Under the Alert Level 2 , schools should put extra public health ... More >>
Alert Level 2 Revised Due To Delta Variant - Expert Reaction
Monday, 6 September 2021, 6:21 pm | Science Media Centre
With the exception of Auckland, New Zealand will drop down to Alert Level 2 tomorrow night. The Alert Level 2 settings have been significantly revised in response to the more transmissible Delta variant. Under the revised Alert Level 2 settings, people ... More >>
Cabinet set to review the alert level settings
Monday, 6 September 2021, 10:36 am | Science Media Centre
20 new Covid-19 community cases have been reported on Sunday, with Cabinet set to review the alert level settings for the country outside of Auckland on Monday afternoon. The SMC asked experts to comment. Professor Michael Baker, Professor of Public Health, ... More >>
Chasing Covid Variants Of Interest – Expert Q&A
Thursday, 2 September 2021, 6:19 pm | Science Media Centre
The Mu variant of the Covid-19 virus – first found in Colombia early this year – has now been classed as a variant of interest. As the virus changes, the World Health Organization aims to pick up early signs – and consider the risk – of ... More >>
