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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 1]
Commonwealth Ocean Declaration - Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 29 October 2024, 8:32 pm | Science Media Centre
The declaration includes commitments to increasing marine protected areas, reducing plastic pollution and shipping emissions, and maintaining countries' maritime boundaries in the face of sea level rise. More >>
Police Withdrawing From Mental Health Calls - Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 29 October 2024, 8:28 pm | Science Media Centre
It's the first stage of their planned withdrawal from mental health 111 callouts. The next phase involves officers leaving sooner after handing over to health staff. More >>
Can Contact Sports Cause A Degenerative Brain Condition? – Expert Q&A
Thursday, 10 October 2024, 12:05 pm | Science Media Centre
Researchers are working to understand how often contact sports like rugby can lead to players developing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). The condition was called “punch drunk syndrome” nearly 100 years ago when scientists first noticed a link ... More >>
Mpox Vaccine Protection Wanes Within A Year – Expert Reaction
Friday, 4 October 2024, 2:58 pm | Science Media Centre
Researchers from Harvard Medical School found that mpox antibodies waned six to 12 months after immunisation, but that more research is needed to confirm this. More >>
Reforming Building Consents - Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 2 October 2024, 11:01 am | Science Media Centre
The options under consideration include reducing the number of Consent Authorities, as well as allowing building inspections to be done by private companies. More >>
Puberty Blocker Prescribing Rates In New Zealand – Expert Reaction
Friday, 27 September 2024, 1:23 pm | Science Media Centre
The study published in the NZMJ notes that the prescription rates had previously been rising since 2014. New Zealand rates were 1.7 times higher than the Netherlands by 2018, and 3.5-6.9 times higher than England and Wales up to 2020. More >>
COVID-19 Tests No Longer Free In NZ - Expert Reaction
Thursday, 26 September 2024, 3:32 pm | Science Media Centre
Te Whatu Ora says the free tests collected now will have a shelf life ranging from December 2025 to May 2027. From October, the tests will only be available for purchase. More >>
‘Widescale Harm’ Predicted From Microplastics Pollution – Expert Reaction
Friday, 20 September 2024, 11:14 am | Science Media Centre
A review of 20 years of microplastics research concludes that addressing the pollution problem, which could more than double by 2040, needs regulations that involve the public, social sciences, and natural sciences. More >>
Young Children Have A Different Immune Response To COVID – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 19 September 2024, 12:21 pm | Science Media Centre
Young children also had a distinctive response in the memory cells that ‘remember’ the virus after recovery. Older children had a response more similar to adults with mild COVID-19. More >>
Genetic Screening Valuable For Diagnosing Autism In Aotearoa – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 19 September 2024, 11:48 am | Science Media Centre
The authors say that having a conclusive genetic diagnosis can help with personalised healthcare, access to support services, and screening for co-occurring health conditions. More >>
Provisional Approval Of Mpox Vaccine In NZ – Expert Reaction
Monday, 16 September 2024, 2:31 am | Science Media Centre
New Zealand has provisionally approved an mpox vaccine, with the national health response prioritising high-risk groups as confirmed cases emerge likely linked to the Winter Pride Festival. More >>
Avian Flu’s Spread To Remote Antarctic Islands – Expert Reaction
Sunday, 15 September 2024, 11:07 pm | Science Media Centre
Aotearoa New Zealand is one of the last places on Earth that has never had a case of the virus, which is decimating wild birds and causing havoc for chicken farmers around the world. More >>
Mobile Phones Not Linked To Brain Cancers, WHO-commissioned Review Finds – Expert Reaction
Sunday, 15 September 2024, 11:07 pm | Science Media Centre
A new systematic review of 63 research studies has found no link between mobile phone use and increased brain cancer risk. More >>
Changes To NZ’s Energy Sector – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 27 August 2024, 5:37 pm | Science Media Centre
The Government is moving forward with new and previously announced changes to New Zealand’s energy sector. More >>
Volcanic Ash From Whakaari Halts Flights – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 22 August 2024, 3:32 pm | Science Media Centre
The Volcanic Alert Level for Whakaari was raised to Level 3 on 9 August 2024, and since then the volcano has experienced ongoing minor eruptive activity including ash emissions. Last week, GNS Science said a new vent had been detected on Whakaari/White ... More >>
Gene Tech Rule Changes – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 13 August 2024, 4:25 pm | Science Media Centre
The Government is moving forward on its intentions to overhaul restrictions on the use of gene editing and other genetic technologies in New Zealand and establish a dedicated regulator. More >>
Deep-sea Critters Attracting Patents - Expert Reaction
Friday, 9 August 2024, 4:53 pm | Science Media Centre
A new database of marine genes in patent filings reveals most patents are held by a few large companies, and that deep-sea organisms are of increasing economic interest. These include species in areas outside of national jurisdictions, where environmental ... More >>
What Does A Functioning Healthcare System Look Like? – Expert Q&A
Wednesday, 7 August 2024, 1:31 pm | Science Media Centre
New Zealand does reasonably well by global standards on quality of care and efficiency of service delivery but we do very poorly on access and equity. More >>
What Are Heated Tobacco Products? – Expert Q&A
Wednesday, 7 August 2024, 1:08 pm | Science Media Centre
The SMC asked experts to comment on how heated tobacco products work, how they’re marketed, and what the evidence says about how helpful they are as a tool to quit smoking. More >>
NZ Opts Out Of Joint Standard For Infant Formula – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 7 August 2024, 12:03 pm | Science Media Centre
The Government will not sign up to new trans-Tasman standards on infant formula, which includes tougher labelling requirements. More >>
