Science Media Centre

Yesterday, New Zealand Police confirmed 20 deaths linked to synthetic drugs since July. Most of the samples from people who had died, and those seized in raids by police, were found to contain the dangerous chemical AMB-FUBINACA. The SMC prepared this Q&A on what is known about AMB-FUBINACA. Feel free to use these comments in your reporting. Prof […]

The Science Media Centre put questions on key science-related issues to the political parties ahead of the General Election scheduled to be held on September 23. This is the fourth time the SMC has canvassed political parties on their science-related policies; you can access previous election Q&As on our website – 2008, 2011, 2014. Click […]

MPI is responding to the discovery of a cattle disease on a South Canterbury farm. Mycoplasma bovis is common internationally but this is the first time it has been found in New Zealand. The SMC prepared a Q&A with an expert who has studied the disease overseas. Feel free to use these comments in your reporting. Dr Fernanda Castillo […]

Yesterday’s landslip that blocked State Highway 1 into Wellington has been cleared away, but how did it happen and are we likely to see more of these types of slips? The Science Media Centre put the following questions about the slip to engineering geologist, Dr Chris Massey. Dr Chris Massey, engineering geologist, GNS Science, comments: […]

There’s no place like home, but owning your own home is harder than ever before. Leaky houses, sky-rocketing prices, and ever-increasing energy bills – what do experts have to say about the Future of Housing in New Zealand? In this Expert Q&A, the Science Media Centre asked experts in the field how design, technical innovation, […]

As parliament considers a bill to put decision-making about community water fluoridation in the hands of district health boards, fluoridation is likely to remain a polarising issue for some communities. The SMC asked New Zealand and international experts to discuss what the science says about the benefits of fluoridation and where the objections stem from. […]

Following the discovery of the parasite Bonamia ostreae in Stewart Island oyster farms, the Ministry for Primary Industries has issued a restriction on the area and plans to remove the affected oysters. Niwa put together a Q&A with fisheries scientist Keith Michael about the parasite and the risk of it spreading further afield. What is Bonamia […]

On the 22nd May 2017, a suicide bombing took place at a pop concert at the Manchester Arena, with the latest reports indicating 22 dead and a further 59 injured. With the UK ramping up police presence in the streets and increasing the terror alert to from severe to critical, Theresa May noted in a statement that […]

Yesterday marked the start of the ten-day window in which Rocket Lab will attempt to launch its Electron rocket from the Mahia Peninsula in the Northern Hawkes Bay.  If they succeed, this will be the first rocket launched into space from New Zealand, making us the 11th country to do so. After high winds scrubbed […]

A mere week after the tail end of Tropical Cyclone Debbie hit the North Island, another cyclone is on its way. The MetService is warning Kiwis that Cyclone Cook could bring heavy rainfall especially to areas already saturated from last week. The SMC gathered expert reaction on the cyclone and flood risk, please feel free […]