Science Media Centre NZ

Send us your top science stories Nominations for the 3rd annual Science Journalism Awards are open until the end of this week. The awards celebrate excellent reporting on science-related topics across all forms of media by shining a…

Researchers - has your work been covered well in the news? Nominate the journalist for a Golden Tardigrade! Entries close on Sunday:
www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2026/03/09/s...

Send us your top science stories Nominations for the 3rd annual Science Journalism Awards are open until the end of this week. The awards celebrate excellent reporting on science-related topics across all forms of media by shining a…

Not sure if your news story is nerdy enough for a Science Journalism Award? No need to worry! Last year’s finalists did stories on dental dams, cold-water swimming, the psychology of music, and river management. Get your entries in by Sunday:
www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2026/03/09/s...

Send us your top science stories Nominations for the 3rd annual Science Journalism Awards are open until the end of this week. The awards celebrate excellent reporting on science-related topics across all forms of media by shining a…

Read, heard, or watched a great piece of NZ science journalism this year? Nominate it for an award! Entries close on Sunday: www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2026/03/09/s...

Covid inquiry phase two - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre The Royal Commission on COVID-19 has outlined more lessons on "making the best decisions in the worst of circumstances". The report makes 24 formal recommendations, including: framing the elimination...

Covid inquiry phase two – Expert Reaction

Send us your top science journalism stories - Science Media Centre Nominations for the 3rd annual Science Journalism Awards are open until the end of this week. The awards celebrate excellent reporting on science-related topics across all forms of media by shining a...

Send us your top science journalism stories

Coastal sea levels may be higher than previously thought - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre We could be underestimating the global population who'll be affected by sea level rise by almost 70%, a new Dutch study finds. Researchers found that hundreds of past studies on coastal hazards - like...

Coastal sea levels may be higher than previously thought – Expert Reaction

NZ space launch limit to increase tenfold - Expert Reaction The number of space launches allowed from NZ is set to increase from 100 to 1000.  The government says the current limit was expected to be reached this year, while the new limit would not be reached ...

A few scientists mentioned this in our recent expert reaction:
www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2026/02/12/n...

Police given powers to order homeless to 'move-on' - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre New powers will enable police to require people to leave a public area for up to 24 hours. In an amendment to the Summary Offences Act, the 'move-on' orders can be applied to anyone over the age of...

Police given powers to order homeless to ‘move-on’ – Expert Reaction

Dog attacks spark calls for change - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre The Dog Control Act is under scrutiny following three serious dog attacks last week. Organisations such as Auckland Council and the SPCA separately called for a review of the Act after a woman was...

Dog attacks spark calls for change – Expert Reaction

A dengue death in the Cook Islands is a reminder that community cooperation is the most vital tool in transmission reduction, AUT's Dr Hammed Fatoyinbo tells the Science Media centre @smcnz.bsky.social

Which Aotearoa bug is best? - In the News - Science Media Centre Voting closes at midnight on Monday for the Entomological Society's Bug of the Year 2026. Here are some of the 21 bugs vying for your vote. Otago alpine cockroach Professor of Evolutionary Biology Mary...

Which Aotearoa bug is best? – In the News

Dengue control underway in Cook Islands - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre A mosquito fumigation operation is being carried out in Rarotonga, after the first reported death from a dengue outbreak.  Travellers to Rarotonga will experience temperature checks and bug-spraying...

Dengue control underway in Cook Islands – Expert Reaction

How do we stop lithium batteries from burning up in the bin? - Expert Q&A - Science Media Centre A Waikato landfill fire is the latest in a series of blazes suspected to have been caused by wrongly disposed lithium-ion batteries.  The fire has re-opened discussion on how we can best deal with the...

How do we stop lithium batteries from burning up in the bin? – Expert Q&A

NZ space launch limit to increase tenfold - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre The number of space launches allowed from NZ is set to increase from 100 to 1000.  The government says the current limit was expected to be reached this year, while the new limit would not be reached...

NZ space launch limit to increase tenfold – Expert Reaction

We're hiring: Kaimanaaki Pāpāho | Media Advisor role The Science Media Centre (SMC) is looking for a media advisor to join our dedicated team working to improve the reach, relevance and accuracy of news media reporting on science and related topics in…

It's the final day to apply to work with the SMC! Get your CV in by 5pm (12 Feb).
www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2026/01/27/w...

Science Media SAVVY Our flagship media training increases confidence and skills to help researchers to engage more effectively with the wider public through broadcast, print and social media. Apply below. We create a uni...

New spots have opened up in next week's media training in Whakatū Nelson - a rare opportunity for researchers in the region to attend a local SAVVY workshop. 19-20 February, needs-based funding available. Apply now! www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/science-medi...

We're hiring: Kaimanaaki Pāpāho | Media Advisor role The Science Media Centre (SMC) is looking for a media advisor to join our dedicated team working to improve the reach, relevance and accuracy of news media reporting on science and related topics in…

Want to work with a dynamic team helping connect scientists with the media? Applications close at 5pm tomorrow (12 Feb).
www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2026/01/27/w...

Wellington's sewage spill prompts health warnings - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre Health officials are warning people to stay off Wellington's south coast beaches, due to the infection risks from the Moa Point wastewater plant failure. With untreated wastewater still being pumped into...

Wellington’s sewage spill prompts health warnings – Expert Reaction

We're hiring: Kaimanaaki Pāpāho | Media Advisor role The Science Media Centre (SMC) is looking for a media advisor to join our dedicated team working to improve the reach, relevance and accuracy of news media reporting on science and related topics in…

Time is running out to apply to to work with the SMC! Get your CV in by this Thursday (12 Feb).
www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2026/01/27/w...

Obesity linked to severe infection risk - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre People with obesity are 1.7 times more likely to be hospitalised or die from infection, a new overseas study finds, while those with severe obesity face 3 times the risk. The paper in The Lancet looked...

Obesity linked to severe infection risk – Expert Reaction

How Wellington's wastewater failure could impact sea life - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre It could take months before the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant is repaired, with raw sewage continuing to flow into the Cook Strait. Wellington Water is advising that people stay away from local...

How Wellington’s wastewater failure could impact sea life – Expert Reaction

Moa Point wastewater plant shuts down - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre An equipment failure at the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant last Wednesday sent raw sewage into the sea directly off Wellington's south coast. Since Thursday night, the untreated wastewater has...

Moa Point wastewater plant shuts down – Expert Reaction

NZ's critical minerals on the world stage - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre New Zealand is attending international talks in the US this week about a strategic alliance on critical minerals.  Earlier in the week, the US announced a stockpile of rare earth elements, and plans...

NZ’s critical minerals on the world stage – Expert Reaction

Transgender and cisgender women have similar physical fitness - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre Trans and cisgender women have comparable fitness despite differences in muscle mass, finds a review of 52 previous studies. The systematic review and analysis by overseas scientists in British Journal...

Transgender and cisgender women have similar physical fitness – Expert Reaction

We're hiring: Kaimanaaki Pāpāho | Media Advisor role - Science Media Centre The Science Media Centre (SMC) is looking for a media advisor to join our dedicated team working to improve the reach, relevance and accuracy of news media reporting on science and related topics in Aotearoa...

Want to work at the interface of science and journalism - helping make complex topics accessible to the public of Aotearoa New Zealand? Then check out our new job opening here: www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2026/01/27/w...

We're hiring: Kaimanaaki Pāpāho | Media Advisor role - Science Media Centre The Science Media Centre (SMC) is looking for a media advisor to join our dedicated team working to improve the reach, relevance and accuracy of news media reporting on science and related topics in Aotearoa...

We’re hiring: Kaimanaaki Pāpāho | Media Advisor role

Shifting power use to off-peak hours could save NZ $3 billion - Science Media Centre A new national analysis finds that almost a quarter of Aotearoa's peak electricity use could be shifted to off-peak hours. This could save the country $3 billion in power generation and infrastructure...

Shifting power use to off-peak hours could save NZ $3 billion

Landslides still a risk following rains - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre New Zealanders are not yet in the clear when it comes to the dangers posed by landslides following the recent severe weather events that hit the upper North Island, according to NEMA. The agency says...

Landslides still a risk following rains – Expert Reaction

Parts of North Island hit by record-breaking rains - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre Red rain warnings affecting parts of the North Island have been lifted, while local states of emergency remain in place in five regions due to the severe weather. This was the 20th Red Warning Event issued...

Parts of North Island hit by record-breaking rains – Expert Reaction

"Bad behaviour" begets "bad behaviour" in AI - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre Artificial intelligence models trained to behave badly on specifically defined jobs may also start misbehaving on completely different tasks, say international researchers. When they trained an AI model...

“Bad behaviour” begets “bad behaviour” in AI – Expert Reaction