Science Media Centre

Stuff and the NZ Herald have both been running a series of environment stories this week, with Stuff focusing on ‘forgotten species’ and the Herald quizzing scientists on the environment. Stuff science and environment report Ged Cann’s ‘Forgotten Species’ series has challenged the idea that we’re doing well on conservation, instead highlighting five species that […]

Australian hardware chain Bunnings has decided to stop selling neonicotinoid pesticides products in its Australian and New Zealand stores by the end of the year. The Sydney Morning Herald reported the decision over the weekend, which the company said was based on studies that suggest neonicotinoid pesticides may be contributing to declining bee numbers. The […]

The Taranaki Daily News has been running a six-part climate change series, called ‘Life of the Edge’, examining what climate change means for Taranaki. Journalist Deena Coster has explored the impacts of climate change on Māori, changes to local landscapes and impacts on human health. Insurance Council of New Zealand chief executive Tim Grafton said New […]

Researchers examining an underwater volcano that erupted in 2012 have compared its size to the Mt St Helens eruption in 1980. Havre volcano was only discovered in 2002 and when it erupted in 2012 initially no-one knew something had happened until a giant pumice raft, covering about 400 square kilometres of ocean, was spotted floating […]

New Zealand and Australian researchers have identified another extinct New Zealand bat species, this one weighed about 40 grams – making it the biggest burrowing bat discovered. While so-called burrowing bats are now only found in New Zealand, they once also lived in Australia and are peculiar as they forage on the forest floor as […]

A report from the Ministry for the Environment has warned that New Zealand lacks a coordinated plan to deal with future climate change, which threatens hundreds of billions of dollars of property and infrastructure. The report, which had been withheld by the previous government, was leaked prior to the September election. Today, Climate Change Minister […]

The second stage of the Havelock North drinking water inquiry has been tabled in Parliament, with 51 recommendations including the universal treatment of drinking water. The Hawke’s Bay town was struck by a campylobacter outbreak in August 2016. In total, over 5000 people became ill and the outbreak was linked to four deaths. A Government […]

News broke last night that the US military’s science research agency has funded research into gene drives, including to a group that includes New Zealanders. Documents released to media from a lobby group suggest the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has become the world’s largest funder of gene drive research, putting $100m into the technology. […]

A year on from the November 14 7.8 magnitude earthquake that shook the upper South Island and Wellington, scientists are gathering in Marlborough to discuss what they’ve learnt from the quake. Earthquake scientists have gathered in Marlborough for the eighth annual International Workshop on Paleoseismology, Active Tectonics and Archeoseismology, which is being held in the Southern […]

Science New Zealand, the body that represents the country’s seven Crown Research Institutes (CRIs), hosted its inaugural national awards at Parliament last night. It’s been a week of celebration for the research institutes, which have been celebrating 25 years since the inception of the CRIs. Its conference on Thursday included addresses by new Minister for […]