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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 6]
The First Test Images From The Brand New Vera C. Rubin Observatory Have Been Revealed To The Public
Wednesday, 25 June 2025, 11:00 am | Science Media Centre
Inside the Vera C Rubin telescope is the largest camera ever built, University of Canterbury computational astrophysicist Dr John Forbes told Stuff. More >>
Winners Of 2025 Science Journalism Awards Announced
Thursday, 19 June 2025, 5:22 pm | Science Media Centre
New Zealand Science Media Director Dacia Herbulock said the Science Journalism Awards are a unique new opportunity to celebrate the quality science journalism being done by reporters of all stripes in Aotearoa. More >>
Prescription Psilocybin And Over-the-Counter Melatonin – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 19 June 2025, 5:18 pm | Science Media Centre
“The major issue though is that psilocybin will be prescribed alongside intensive psychotherapy which is expensive. Hence access to this therapy will be limited until complementary funding mechanisms are put in place,” says Professor Suresh Muthukumaraswamy. More >>
Nationwide Census Scrapped – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 19 June 2025, 5:16 pm | Science Media Centre
A robust, person-centred statistical foundation is essential to restore trust and achieve fairer outcomes for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa: Public Health Communication Centre Briefing More >>
EPA’s Glyphosate Decision Challenged In Court – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 19 June 2025, 5:06 pm | Science Media Centre
The Environmental Law Initiative is arguing that there is enough new evidence around the human health and environmental effects of glyphosate, or Roundup, to warrant a reassessment from our chemicals regulator. The hearing has now finished and we ... More >>
Govt Launches Suicide Prevention Plan – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 19 June 2025, 4:58 pm | Science Media Centre
The plan includes new strategies like peer support roles for mental health patients in emergency departments, and crisis recovery cafés so people don’t have to resort to a hospital and can receive care in the community. More >>
Maths Gender Gap Appears Within Kids’ First Two School Terms – Expert Reaction
Friday, 13 June 2025, 4:28 pm | Science Media Centre
French and US researchers analysed data from more than 2.6 mn first and second grade children (ages 5 to 7) in France. There was almost no difference in the average performance when the children started school, but a notable gender gap in favour of boys appeared ... More >>
Reviewing Our Strategy To Go Predator Free By 2050 – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 10 June 2025, 12:31 pm | Science Media Centre
Pest eradication amongst 5.2 million people going about their lives in towns, cities, farms, and industry will be a massive challenge, says Dr Grant Norbury, Principal Researcher, Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research. More >>
Resource Consent Exemptions For Granny Flats And Papakāinga – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 10 June 2025, 11:52 am | Science Media Centre
Proposed National Environmental Standards (NES) for granny flats would require all councils to permit a granny flat of up to 70 m2 on an existing property without needing to get a resource consent, subject to certain conditions. More >>
Dengue In The Pacific Region – Expert Q&A
Wednesday, 4 June 2025, 5:38 pm | Science Media Centre
The SMC asked experts about the current situation in the Pacific. More >>
Science Kits Launched, Curriculum Overhaul To Come – Expert Reaction
Friday, 30 May 2025, 3:45 pm | Science Media Centre
The 2025 Budget included almost $40 million over four years on science kits for Year 0 to 8 students, which the Education Minister today announced will “support teachers to confidently deliver practical science learning, aligned with the new science curriculum.” More >>
Hopes For UN Ocean Conference – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 28 May 2025, 4:37 pm | Science Media Centre
Next week’s One Ocean Science Congress (3-6 June) will provide a scientific foundation for the UN Ocean Conference (9-13 June). The SMC asked experts about what they want to see from the UN Ocean Conference, and their plans at the Science Congress. More >>
Budget 2025: Science System Funding – Expert Reaction
Friday, 23 May 2025, 6:23 pm | Science Media Centre
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti announced that the Budget was reprioritising existing funding towards “new growth-promoting investments.” The SMC asked experts to comment. More >>
Proposed Increase To Glyphosate Limits – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 21 May 2025, 12:39 pm | Science Media Centre
The proposed amendments change or set maximum residue levels in food sold in NZ for 14 substances, including glyphosate. Glyphosate limits would increase for certain cereal and pea crops, to “support existing use” as a preharvest herbicide or ... More >>
Treating Wastewater To Store Ocean Carbon - Expert Reaction
Monday, 5 May 2025, 3:27 pm | Science Media Centre
The proof-of-concept results show that, if scalable, the approach could help reduce ocean carbon oversaturation, especially in the Northern Hemisphere where the most wastewater treatment plants are located. More >>
Tuatara At Risk From Rat Poison As Well As From Rats – Expert Reaction
Monday, 5 May 2025, 12:35 pm | Science Media Centre
Tuatara populations on offshore islands have benefited from anticoagulant poisons to kill rats, which eat their young and compete for food. More >>
What Goes Into Making Our Seasonal Flu Jab? – Expert Q+A
Friday, 2 May 2025, 10:51 am | Science Media Centre
As most seasonal influenza vaccines are made using chicken eggs, the SMC asked experts for background on seasonal flu vaccine manufacture and alternatives to the standard jab. More >>
Herding Dogs’ Genetic Pawprint – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 1 May 2025, 10:56 am | Science Media Centre
Research published in Science Advances looked at whole-genome sequences of 12 herding breeds, such as border collies and German shepherds, and compared them to those of 91 non-herding breeds. More >>
Several US-based Environmental Science Databases To Be Taken Down – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 24 April 2025, 5:04 pm | Science Media Centre
This comes amid wider concerns about publicly available scientific data in the US being taken down and measures to cut research funding, including at NOAA, by the current government. More >>
Trust In Media Stabilising, Report Shows – Expert Reaction
Monday, 14 April 2025, 11:37 am | Science Media Centre
Authors of the 'Trust in News in Aotearoa New Zealand' report say it’s an early sign of stabilisation after five years of sharp decline. The report also found that approximately 60% of New Zealanders are ‘uncomfortable’ with news produced by ... More >>
