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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 3]
Committee Recommendations On The Gene Tech Bill – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 16 October 2025, 11:49 am | Science Media Centre
The long-awaited report, published last Friday, makes several recommendations. These include which organisms and technologies should fall out of the Bill’s scope. More >>
NZ’s New Targets To Manage Its Methane Emissions – Expert Reaction
Monday, 13 October 2025, 4:14 pm | Science Media Centre
New Zealand’s current domestic target is a 24 – 47% reduction in biogenic methane below 2017 levels by 2050. Today’s announcement now sets that range to 14 – 24%. More >>
Climate Change Is Hammering NZ’s Oceans – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 1:24 pm | Science Media Centre
Our Marine Environment 2025, produced by The Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ, highlights how climate change and human activity are putting increasing pressure on our coasts and the ocean. More >>
Hauraki Gulf Bill Set To Pass – Expert Q&A
Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 1:15 pm | Science Media Centre
The Bill extends protections of current marine reserves in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, including at Cathedral Cove, as well as adding new protected areas. More >>
High Nitrate Levels Found In Rural NZ Drinking Water – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 12:53 pm | Science Media Centre
The first-ever national rural drinking water survey found 5% of private bore samples tested exceeded the national maximum nitrate guidelines. Researchers say farming intensification is behind high nitrate levels in Canterbury, Waikato & Southland. More >>
Quake-Prone Buildings Redefined – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 12:38 pm | Science Media Centre
Following the Seismic Risk Management Review, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says the system is being refocused to reduce repair costs and prevent buildings from being left empty and derelict. More >>
Will The World Overshoot Its Climate Targets? – Expert Q&A
Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 12:30 pm | Science Media Centre
The first-ever Overshoot Conference in Austria will discuss how we might recover our climate targets through mitigation or carbon removal, and also what destructive climate effects might come from exceeding them. The conference begins on 30 September More >>
Repeat Head Knocks May Damage Young Athletes’ Brains – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 18 September 2025, 12:19 pm | Science Media Centre
The study suggests that repeated head knocks can cause long-term brain damage regardless of whether the athlete goes on to develop the degenerative brain condition Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). More >>
Observations Confirm NZ Scientist’s Black Hole Theory – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 17 September 2025, 9:30 am | Science Media Centre
The new study is based on a gravitational wave signal picked up in January this year. One of the study authors said the “exquisitely clear” data meant they could identify two ‘tones’ from the “black hole voices”, and confirm they behaved according ... More >>
Fishing Net Ban To Protect Hoiho – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 16 September 2025, 2:02 pm | Science Media Centre
The three-month ban follows a voluntary closure by set-net fishers last week and earlier calls for a ban during the breeding season of hoiho – the 2024 Bird of the Year. More >>
Polar Geoengineering Ideas “Dangerous” – Expert Reaction
Friday, 12 September 2025, 12:17 pm | Science Media Centre
The authors argue that further research into such techniques would not be an effective use of limited time and resources, and they also distract us from the critical priority of rapidly lowering our greenhouse gas emissions. More >>
University Sector Changes Announced – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 3 September 2025, 12:15 pm | Science Media Centre
The Government has announced what it will do with the University Advisory Group’s (UAG) recommendations, which when combined with a separate group looking at the research system, the original cabinet paper declared it would be ‘surprising if the advisory ... More >>
AI Experts Call For More Regulation – Expert Q&A
Monday, 1 September 2025, 1:52 pm | Science Media Centre
The Science Media Centre asked the authors and some of the signatories about what kind of regulations New Zealand could put in place, and what could happen if we don’t regulate this technology. More >>
Birds Become Night Owls With Light Pollution – Expert Reaction
Friday, 22 August 2025, 9:43 am | Science Media Centre
Researchers found that light pollution had a greater impact on birds with bigger eyes & those with open nests, as well as migratory birds & those with larger geographical ranges. Such birds were more likely to sing later into the evenings and earlier in ... More >>
Defunding Of mRNA Vaccine Research In The US – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 7 August 2025, 3:35 pm | Science Media Centre
The cuts and restructuring of collaborations affect 22 projects worth about half a billion US dollars, and no new mRNA projects will be funded. More >>
Not Just Sticks And Stones: Childhood Verbal Abuse Also Linked To Poor Mental Health – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 7 August 2025, 11:49 am | Science Media Centre
While experience of childhood physical abuse has halved over recent decades, down to 10% of respondents born after 2000, verbal abuse has increased. More >>
Further Cuts Fund New Tech Institute – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 6 August 2025, 4:49 pm | Science Media Centre
These changes come on top of reprioritised research funding in the 2025 Budget being used to set up the three other Public Research Organisations, a new PM’s Advisory Council, Invest NZ, and a new gene tech regulator. More >>
NCEA Replacement Proposed – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 6 August 2025, 11:29 am | Science Media Centre
The proposal has a focus on structured learning, with compulsory language and mathematics subjects at Year 11. For the Year 12 and 13 qualifications, students would receive subject grades out of 100 with a letter grade from A to E. More >>
Ten-Year Fuel Stockpile For NZ – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 5 August 2025, 10:13 am | Science Media Centre
The government says this will improve energy security and result in lower power prices, particularly during high winter electricity demand and when renewable generation is low. More >>
Offshore Oil & Gas Exploration Ban Set To Be Overturned – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 31 July 2025, 4:34 pm | Science Media Centre
A last-minute amendment passed on Tuesday means the Resources Minister and the Finance Minister would decide who pays for decommissioning of oil and gas fields. More >>
