Science Media Centre

The Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor Sir Peter Gluckman has released a report hoped to help understand the complexity of issues surrounding the condition and stewardship of freshwater. Sir Peter said his office had been working on the report for nearly a year, but following the Government’s ‘Clean Water’ consultation package, which includes new approaches […]

New Zealand has some fine science and environment reporters reporting for print, television and radio. Based all over the country, from Auckland to Wellington to Christchurch, they help to ensure that New Zealanders are kept up to date with science and environment issues both here and abroad. The Science Media Centre approached some of them, […]

Over 100 Nobel laureates have signed their name to an open letter challenging Greenpeace to end its opposition to genetically modified food. The signatories urge Greenpeace to “recognize the findings of authoritative scientific bodies and regulatory agencies, and abandon their campaign against ‘GMOs’ in general and Golden Rice in particular”. Golden Rice is a beta-carotene […]

One billion tonnes. That’s how much the global agricultural industry needs to cut its emissions per year by 2030 to achieve the goals set at COP21 in Paris, according to a new study. An international team of scientists – including a New Zealander – calculated the required emissions cuts based on the goal of keeping […]

Genetically engineered crops are safe, but new regulations are needed as the definition of GE organisms becomes blurred, say US academies. An extensive study by the US-based National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has analysed the costs and benefits of genetically modified crops, drawing on almost 30 years of research. The key findings of the […]

Increases in agriculture are the likely cause of a global rise in methane emissions over the last decade, according to New Zealand research published today in the journal Science. The concentration of greenhouse gas methane in the atmosphere rose steadily over the last century, before flattening out in the late 90’s.Then in 2006 methane levels […]

Unchecked climate change will hit food production so severely that an extra half a million people could die through changes in diet and bodyweight in 2050, compared with a world where emissions are curtailed. The figure comes from a new UK study published today in the leading medical journal the Lancet. Taking into account projected […]

Stronger rules on farm pollution and a $100 million for cleaning up lakes and rivers are among new initiatives put forward by the Government to improve freshwater management. The measures were announced at the Bluegreens Forum in Tekapo, with a consultation document titled ‘Next steps for fresh water’ released by Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith […]

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Director General has issued a statement warning of a potential Hepatitis A risk associated with imported frozen berries. UPDATE: MPI has now directed company FSL Foods to recall their Fruzio Mixed Berries sold in 1kg and 500 gram bags. The warning comes following 4 human cases of Hepatitis A thought […]

Leaders from countries around the world laid out their planned actions to tackle climate change at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris that started this week. RNZ: Leaders urge climate talk breakthrough in Paris New Zealand Herald: Climate talks: What’s happened and what’s next RNZ: Pacific leaders call for climate action Fossil fuel subsidies […]