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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 20]
New Covid-19 Playbook For NZ – Expert Reaction
Friday, 22 October 2021, 6:11 pm | Science Media Centre
New Zealand will retire its Alert Level system to tackle Covid-19 with a three-tiered “traffic light” system meant to minimise the health impacts of the virus. Auckland will move out of lockdown into the “red” status when all three of its DHBs reach ... More >>
Schools Reopen For Years 11-13 – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 21 October 2021, 9:47 am | Science Media Centre
From Tuesday, senior students in Alert Level 3 areas will be able to return to high school campuses to finish assessments and sit exams. Students will be required to wear masks on site and in school buses – staff will also have to wear masks, as ... More >>
Schools Reopen For Years 11-13 – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 20 October 2021, 4:18 pm | Science Media Centre
From Tuesday, senior students in Alert Level 3 areas will be able to return to high school campuses to finish assessments and sit exams. Students will be required to wear masks on site and in school buses – staff will also have to ... More >>
Housing Differences A Major Contributor To NZ’s Inequities – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 20 October 2021, 9:14 am | Science Media Centre
Nearly a third of New Zealand households spent 30 per cent or more of their total income on housing costs in 2019, according to a new report. The report, written by an expert panel convened by Royal Society Te Apārangi, says spending ... More >>
Highest Daily Case Number In The Pandemic – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 19 October 2021, 5:21 pm | Science Media Centre
Ninety-four cases of Covid-19 were reported in the community today, the largest number of new cases reported in one day since the start of the pandemic. More than half (53) of the cases today are yet to be linked to the outbreak. In today’s media ... More >>
Red Tape Cut For High Density Housing – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 19 October 2021, 5:18 pm | Science Media Centre
People will be able to build up to three homes of up to three storeys on most sites without the need for a resource consent, according to a newly introduced Bill with bipartisan support. Currently, district plans typically only allow for ... More >>
Northland Drops Down To Alert Level 2 Tomorrow Night Following No Signs Of Additional Spread Of Covid-19 In The Region
Monday, 18 October 2021, 7:01 pm | Science Media Centre
However, positive wastewater results continue to show up in the Waikato region, meaning Alert Level 3 restrictions will stay in place and be reviewed again on Friday. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said today that an Alert Level 4 “circuit breaker” ... More >>
How Primary Care Will Cope With More Covid Cases At Home – Expert Reaction
Monday, 18 October 2021, 12:35 pm | Science Media Centre
New Covid-19 cases will recover at home in the near future, with GPs, nurses and other primary care staff taking on a bigger role in managing the pandemic. Last week, Health Minister Andrew Little announced that if case numbers continue to rise, the ... More >>
Why Are Rural Communities More Vulnerable To Covid-19? – Expert Q&A
Thursday, 14 October 2021, 2:52 pm | Science Media Centre
The latest Covid outbreak has so far centred on cities – but now with Northland and parts of Waikato at heightened alert levels, what are the risks for rural communities? New University of Otago research has found vaccination is 11 per cent lower in rural ... More >>
What Do The Latest Covid Trends Mean? – Expert Q&A
Thursday, 14 October 2021, 8:58 am | Science Media Centre
The number of newly reported Covid-19 cases is growing in Aotearoa. Since Friday, it has reached the thirties or forties each day, with a jump to 60 cases on Sunday. The overall case trend has risen recently. The SMC asked experts to explain what ... More >>
High Alert Persists In Northland And Waikato - Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 13 October 2021, 5:09 pm | Science Media Centre
Waikato towns and Northland are to stay at Alert Level 3 for at least another five days. Among a total of 55 new cases revealed today, there were two mystery cases in Waikato that are yet to be linked to the outbreak. The Alert Levels will be reviewed ... More >>
Govt Asks For Ideas To Reduce Emissions – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 13 October 2021, 5:08 pm | Science Media Centre
The government has released a consultation paper, asking for feedback to help shape the Emissions Reduction Plan. Some ideas on the table include: a trade-in scheme for old polluting cars, planting more native forests, a ban on sending paper and ... More >>
Covid Shots Mandated For Health & Education Staff – Expert Reaction
Monday, 11 October 2021, 6:10 pm | Science Media Centre
All front-line staff who work in schools, early childhood education, and health & disability services, will soon be required to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Health workers must have both Covid shots by 1 Dec, while education workers – including ... More >>
Northland Lockdown After Covid Case Moves "Extensively" Through The Region - Expert Reaction
Friday, 8 October 2021, 7:07 pm | Science Media Centre
Northland will move to Alert Level 3 from midnight, after a single Covid case was detected. Covid-19 response Minister Chris Hipkins says the infected woman had quite a bit of movement through the region, but is not co-operating with contact tracing ... More >>
Long Covid Gains Official Recognition – Expert Reaction
Friday, 8 October 2021, 11:24 am | Science Media Centre
Long Covid now has a formal definition – setting out agreed symptoms and timeframes to help spot the common post-Covid condition. The World Health Organization’s case definition aims to help doctors across the world to assess and diagnose long Covid. ... More >>
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 >>
