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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]
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 >>
The Risks Of Pine Carbon Farms – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 10 April 2025, 11:33 am | Science Media Centre
The new report, Alt-F Reset: Examining the drivers of forestry in New Zealand, says that Radiata pine is really the only economical tree for carbon farming. The Science Media Centre asked experts to comment. More >>
Fluoridated Water For Half A Million More Kiwis – Expert Q&A
Thursday, 10 April 2025, 11:17 am | Science Media Centre
The SMC asked local and international experts about what this might mean for public health, and the science around fluoridation. Feel free to use these comments in your reporting or follow up with the contact details provided. More >>
Harassment Of NZ’s Female MPs – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 10 April 2025, 11:09 am | Science Media Centre
Eleven MPs from across the political spectrum talked to researchers about their experiences of harassment, misogyny, racism and online trolling. The Science Media Centre asked third-party experts to comment. More >>
State Of NZ’s Environment – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 10 April 2025, 10:13 am | Science Media Centre
Our environment 2025 is a three-yearly report highlighting the effects of our land use on the rest of New Zealand’s ecosystem. The Science Media Centre asked experts to comment. More >>
Company Claims To Have “De-extincted” The Dire Wolf – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 9 April 2025, 10:06 am | Science Media Centre
The creature is a genetically modified wolf made by Colossal Biosciences, a company valued at $10 billion. More >>
What’s Next For COVID Vaccines In NZ? – Expert Q&A
Friday, 21 March 2025, 11:55 am | Science Media Centre
As we head into winter illness season, the SMC asked experts for the latest on our COVID vaccines. An updated vaccine targeting new COVID variants became available in January. Dr Lisa Connor, head of the Connor laboratory and programme leader of ... More >>
Antarctic Sea Ice Levels Have Been At Record Lows For The Last Three Years, A Global Report Shows
Thursday, 20 March 2025, 11:56 am | Science Media Centre
The World Meteorological Organisation's State of the Global Climate 2024 report highlights record glacier loss, extreme temperatures, unprecedented CO levels, and accelerating sea level rise. Experts react. More >>
Mental Health Screening “Critical” For Chronic Pain Treatment – Expert Reaction
Monday, 10 March 2025, 11:24 am | Science Media Centre
The research team looked at 376 studies comprising almost 350,000 people with chronic pain around the world. Those most likely to have depression and anxiety are women, younger people, and people with a certain kind of chronic pain where there is no ... More >>
Manawanui Fuel Removal Operation Completed – Expert Reaction
Friday, 7 March 2025, 5:21 pm | Science Media Centre
Over 320,000 litres of diesel fuel mixed with seawater have been removed and from this, just over 300,000 litres of usable diesel fuel have been extracted. Another 45,000 litres of liquid including waste oils and diesel fuel/seawater have also been ... More >>
City Fires Likely To Increase With Climate Change – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 4 March 2025, 5:42 pm | Science Media Centre
As air temperatures get hotter with climate change, urban fires will get more common, with New Zealand seeing over 40% more city fires by 2100 with unmitigated warming of over 4°C, according to new overseas research. More >>
Carbon Capture And Storage In Aotearoa – Expert Q+A
Friday, 28 February 2025, 12:08 pm | Science Media Centre
The SMC asked local experts to provide background information on the research behind carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS). More >>
NZ’s Breast Cancer Rates Are Some Of World’s Highest – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 26 February 2025, 1:43 pm | Science Media Centre
A new study of 185 countries reveals that New Zealand and Australia have some of the highest breast cancer diagnosis rates globally, at about 1 in every 1,000 females. However, death rates from the disease are among the lowest and are declining by 2.1% ... More >>
Government Plans To Double Mineral Exports By 2035 – Expert Reaction
Monday, 3 February 2025, 10:41 am | Science Media Centre
The announcement also included the release of the final critical minerals list with 37 minerals including gold and coal. More >>
New Aotearoa Climate Goals Announced – Expert Reaction
Friday, 31 January 2025, 1:13 pm | Science Media Centre
This new contribution would reduce NZ's emissions to around 40 million tonnes CO2-equivalent per year by 2035. Nations participating in the Paris Agreement (recently excepting the US) are due to submit their greenhouse gas reduction targets by February. More >>
