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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]
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 >>
Magnitude 8.8 Quake East Of Russia – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 31 July 2025, 12:04 pm | Science Media Centre
An estimated magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia’s eastern coast has resulted in tsunami warnings across much of the Pacific. New Zealand’s coasts may experience “strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges” and NEMA has advised staying ... More >>
NZ's Early Morning Tsunami Alerts - Expert Reaction
Thursday, 31 July 2025, 11:59 am | Science Media Centre
The alert warns people to stay away from the coasts, which may experience "strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges" until at least midday today. More >>
Global Study Finds 4-Day Work Week Linked To Improved Wellbeing – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 23 July 2025, 10:48 am | Science Media Centre
Compared with employees at 12 companies that didn’t shorten their work weeks, the workers reported improvements in burnout, job satisfaction, and physical and mental health. More >>
Opening Up Highly Productive Land For Housing – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 22 July 2025, 4:14 pm | Science Media Centre
Sweeping proposals to change the RMA national direction include the country’s most productive agricultural areas, which are classed according to how versatile they are for primary production. The SMC asked experts to comment. More >>
Landmark Climate Change Case This Week – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 22 July 2025, 4:06 pm | Science Media Centre
The Advisory Opinion will be announced at 1am NZ time on Thursday, 24 July 2025. The SMC asked experts to comment on what they will be looking out for on Thursday, and to provide background on the impacts of climate change in the Pacific region. More >>
Is Gene Editing The Next Frontier Of Conservation? – Expert Reaction
Friday, 18 July 2025, 12:42 pm | Science Media Centre
In a Perspectives article in Nature Reviews Biodiversity, a team of overseas scientists examine how genome engineering can be a new tool to add to the conservation toolkit. The Science Media Centre asked third-party experts to comment. More >>
Slash And Forestry Management Changes Proposed – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 16 July 2025, 1:09 pm | Science Media Centre
Under proposed changes to the National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry (NES-CF), councils would be more restricted in their ability to set harder controls. More >>
Moa “De-Extinction” Plans Announced – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 9 July 2025, 4:30 pm | Science Media Centre
Colossal Biosciences, working with Ngāi Tahu Research Centre and Canterbury Museum, says it expects to “resurrect” the moa within five to eight years, aiming to release the animal into “expansive, secure ecological reserves.”n More >>
NZ’s First National AI Strategy Released – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 9 July 2025, 2:28 pm | Science Media Centre
The strategy document says NZ’s use of Artificial Intelligence “shows promise but requires acceleration,” and that the government’s role includes reducing barriers, providing regulatory guidance, building capability, and ensuring responsible ... More >>
