Latest Sci-Tech Headlines
Some Technologies Use Accelerated Natural Processes To Capture Carbon – But Can They Store It Durably?
Friday, 22 May 2026, 2:44 pm | The Conversation
Investment in carbon removal technologies is rising rapidly, but some models overestimate how much carbon is captured because they don’t cover all Earth processes. More >>
UN Member Countries Are Legally Responsible For Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 21 May 2026, 4:47 pm | Science Media Centre
The resolution was originally proposed by Vanuatu and co-sponsored by New Zealand in 2023. More >>
UN Member Countries Are Legally Responsible For Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 21 May 2026, 4:47 pm | Science Media Centre
The resolution was originally proposed by Vanuatu and co-sponsored by New Zealand in 2023. More >>
Replacing Public Servants With AI Could Come With Hidden Costs, Critics Warn
Thursday, 21 May 2026, 2:39 pm | RNZ
The government's basic recipe for cutting the wage bill is to reduce the head-count and use of technology - but critics have a warning. More >>
De-Extinction Company Says It’s Made An Artificial Egg – If True, It Could Help Save Living Species
Wednesday, 20 May 2026, 11:04 am | The Conversation
Colossal Biosciences’ artificial egg technology would deliver a useful tool for the conservation of threatened birds, but only if it’s made publicly available. More >>
Chicks Hatch From Artificial Egg, In A First Step Towards Moa 'De-Extinction' - Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 20 May 2026, 9:46 am | Science Media Centre
This technology is a valuable tool, that when combined with genome engineering techniques still in development, may be able to reverse the impacts of inbreeding on low hatching success for example. More >>
NZ Is Criminalising Sexualised Deepfakes – Banning Apps That Make Them Should Be Next
Wednesday, 20 May 2026, 9:26 am | The Conversation
The rapid development of new technologies means criminalisation alone is unlikely to stop the spread of sexualised deepfakes. More >>
EDS Webinar: Vanishing Nature Revisited: Are We Facing The Biodiversity Crisis?
Tuesday, 19 May 2026, 5:51 pm | Environmental Defence Society
Ten years on, this webinar reflects on the findings of Vanishing Nature and its recommendations, progress towards them and where much more effort is still needed. More >>
UC-Led Biotech Platform Prepares For World-First Spaceplane Testing
Tuesday, 19 May 2026, 10:59 am | University of Canterbury
A fully automated laboratory designed for biotechnology experiments in microgravity is preparing for testing aboard Dawn Aerospace’s reusable spaceplane. More >>
First-Ever Study Reveals Scale Of Volcanic Gas Risk In Auckland
Monday, 18 May 2026, 1:32 pm | Natural Hazards Commission
Volcanic gases – particularly sulphur dioxide (SO) & carbon dioxide (CO) – can pose serious risks to people, infrastructure and the environment. SO can irritate airways and corrode materials, while high concentrations of CO can cause ... More >>
Truckloads Of Bad News For Scientists
Monday, 18 May 2026, 12:10 pm | New Zealand Association of Scientists
We need structures and investment that will keep us safe and healthy while enabling our economy to perform like peer nations. Further cuts, shortcuts and uncertainty will cause lasting damage, NZAS Co-President Lucy Stewart says. More >>
Astrophysicists Use ‘Space Archaeology’ To Trace The History Of A Spiral Galaxy
Sunday, 17 May 2026, 9:39 pm | The Conversation
Astronomers want to understand how spiral galaxies form and get their massive spiral arms. More >>
Global Student Network More Vulnerable After Successful System Hack - Experts
Sunday, 17 May 2026, 9:32 pm | RNZ
The Canvas system is used by 9000 institutions, but was offline for two days. More >>
Iran Is Threatening Undersea Cables. The World’s ‘Digital Chokepoints’ Have Never Been More Vulnerable
Saturday, 16 May 2026, 9:13 pm | The Conversation
The virtual world still runs on a very physical network – and states are waking up to the strategic implications. More >>
Wireless carriers push back on fibre-first rural broadband
Saturday, 16 May 2026, 7:07 pm | Bill Bennett
New Zealand's mobile sector challenges the idea that fibre should be the first choice for rural broadband. Overseas telcos operating in New Zealand will now be subject to local laws and regulations. Submarine cable safety. More >>
Google Threat Report Warns AI-Driven Cyber Operations Are Scaling Across Global Threat Landscape
Tuesday, 12 May 2026, 12:07 pm | Google Threat Intelligence Group - GTIG
GTIG additionally identified a growing trend toward “agentic workflows”, where autonomous frameworks are used to conduct reconnaissance and validate vulnerabilities at scale. More >>
Junk Food Designed To Make Us Eat More, Study Finds
Monday, 11 May 2026, 3:08 pm | University of Auckland
A new University of Auckland study finds companies making ultra-processed foods, often called junk food, design and market these products to encourage people to eat more and more of them. More >>
Junk Food Designed To Make Us Eat More, Study Finds
Monday, 11 May 2026, 3:04 pm | University of Auckland
A new University of Auckland study finds companies making ultra-processed foods, often called junk food, design and market these products to encourage people to eat more and more of them. More >>
Gen Accelerates Agentic Security And Privacy For The AI Era
Monday, 11 May 2026, 9:24 am | Gen
Gen Agent Trust Hub Now Includes VPN for Agents; Norton 360 Enhances Agent Protection – Now Available in NZ More >>
As David Attenborough Turns 100, Four Experts Explore His Legacy, From Science To Storytelling
Sunday, 10 May 2026, 9:02 pm | The Conversation
Attenborough has influenced everything from conservation and documentary production to the communication of the biggest story of all – climate change. More >>
Fixed voice rules head for deregulation
Friday, 8 May 2026, 7:17 pm | Bill Bennett
he Commerce Commission will investigate deregulating PSTN interconnection. Ventia plan to grow beyond telecoms with datacentre builds. One NZ builds 29 new cell sites More >>
ANZ Organisations Reassess Hybrid Cloud Security as AI-Driven Threats Escalate
Friday, 8 May 2026, 6:14 pm | Gigamon
The report also points to increasing concern around future quantum-related threats, with 87 percent of respondents worried about “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks targeting encrypted data. More >>
When AI Starts Making Decisions, Cybersecurity Becomes A Governance Issue
Wednesday, 6 May 2026, 5:23 pm | ManageEngine
Traditional IT automation has always been predictable. Scripts run predefined instructions: if a server reaches a certain threshold, scale it up. If a system crashes, reboot it. More >>
Kids’ Screen Use Linked To Long-Term Deficits In Self-Control And Attention
Wednesday, 6 May 2026, 9:06 am | University of Auckland
Study participants ranged from babies and toddlers to 18 years of age. The research came from the School of Psychology and the School of Population Health at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. More >>
Tao Climate Launches FLY, Breakthrough Technology For Flight Carbon Measurement And Removal
Wednesday, 6 May 2026, 7:40 am | Tao Climate
The company believes FLY can help airlines move beyond defensive sustainability messaging and towards a more positive model, where passengers are invited to participate in measurable climate action and airlines generate new value from trust. More >>
Norton Neo Update: Now with Built-In VPN & Web Protection
Tuesday, 5 May 2026, 7:50 pm | Norton
Research To Address Equity In STEM For Māori, Pacific And Female Students
Tuesday, 5 May 2026, 11:20 am | University of Auckland
Associate Professor Lai says the research aims to better understand how assessment systems, subject pathways and school practices shape students’ access to and success in STEM learning. More >>
Honeybees May Be Helping Spread Tree-Killing Myrtle Rust – New Research
Monday, 4 May 2026, 8:06 am | The Conversation
The same busy foraging that makes bees vital pollinators could also turn them into Trojan horses for a serious fungal disease threatening native forests. More >>
Comet Visible In NZ Skies For The Next Week, Then Gone For 170,000 Years
Sunday, 3 May 2026, 8:10 pm | RNZ
The Oort cloud comet - known as C/2025 R3 PanSTARRS - can be seen after sunset above the western horizon. More >>
Lead Pipes Banned For New Plumbing – Expert Reaction
Friday, 1 May 2026, 5:07 pm | Science Media Centre
The change is intended to improve the safety of drinking water in NZ, and marks the end of a transitionary period first signaled to the plumbing industry in 2022. More >>
Tuanz report: Networks built, value missing
Friday, 1 May 2026, 1:21 pm | Bill Bennett
Journalist and analyst Bill Bennett reports on the 2026 Tuanz Digital Priorities Report which found New Zealand needs to do more with its first class communications infrastructure. Al ComCom reviews Fibre input methodologies. More >>
How AI Bias Can Creep Into Online Content Moderation
Thursday, 30 April 2026, 8:29 pm | University of Queensland
“People interact with AI programs trusting & believing they are completely neutral,” Prof Demartini said. “But concerns remain about their tendency to encode and reproduce political biases, raising important questions about AI ethics and deployment. More >>
Auckland To Host The ‘World Cup Of Physics’ In 2027; Search Begins For Student-Designed Tournament Logo
Thursday, 30 April 2026, 7:58 pm | New Zealand Young Physicists Trust
NZYPT launches nationwide “FUSION” design competition inviting high school students to create the official IYPT 2027 Tournament Logo. More >>
New Zealand’s National Hydrographer To Direct International Agency
Thursday, 30 April 2026, 7:37 pm | Land Information New Zealand
LINZ Acting Chief Executive Jan Pierce says the IHO appointment is a significant achievement for both Mr Greenland and New Zealand. More >>
AI Tool Maps Tree Loss To Improve City Planning
Wednesday, 29 April 2026, 11:49 am | University of Canterbury
Christchurch has lost 14.5% of its urban tree cover; now a UC AI tool shows exactly where, helping cities act faster on climate and planning. More >>
TUANZ Launches 2026 Digital Priorities Report, Warning Of Growing Innovation Gap For New Zealand
Wednesday, 29 April 2026, 10:14 am | TUANZ
The sixth annual report, delivered in partnership with One NZ includes insights from interviews with nearly 30 CIOs and CTOs from major enterprises or public sector organisations around Aotearoa. More >>
Formidable El Niño Expected To Arrive This Winter
Wednesday, 29 April 2026, 8:37 am | Earth Sciences New Zealand
There is a greater than 60% probability that the event will be classified as ‘strong’ by spring, with the potential to intensify further later in the year. More >>
Antarctica’s Ice Shelves Are Vulnerable To Melting From Below – Knowing How Far Ocean Heat Reaches Is Crucial
Tuesday, 28 April 2026, 3:40 pm | The Conversation
New research shows tides influence how ocean heat is transported under Antarctica’s floating ice shelves, changing the energy available to melt the ice from below. More >>
Muskism: How Elon Musk’s Tech Empire Shapes Politics, Power And Public Discourse
Monday, 27 April 2026, 9:01 pm | The Better News
If we compare Muskism to Fordism, the difference is striking. Fordism promised social peace; Muskism promises social conflict, says Ben Tarnoff. More >>
Rare Whale Sighting Heralds Launch Of Āvei Moana Ocean Science Voyage On Aotearoa’s East Coast
Monday, 27 April 2026, 7:46 am | Moananui Sanctuary Trust
The voyage is being delivered in partnership with Apparent Winds, supporting operational deployment alongside Moananui Sanctuary’s wider ocean governance framework. More >>
Hapū-Led Ocean Science Voyage Launches On East Coast To Track Climate Impacts
Monday, 27 April 2026, 7:32 am | Moananui Sanctuary Trust
Data gathered will support customary marine rights for 12 Ngāti Porou hapū and contribute to Indigenous-led frameworks for ocean monitoring. More >>
Otago And Southland Patients To Access Advanced Cancer Imaging For The First Time
Sunday, 26 April 2026, 2:47 pm | RHCNZ Medical Imaging Group
The new Pacific Radiology Group (PRG) clinic in central Dunedin introduces the region’s first permanent PET-CT scanner, alongside expanded MRI, CT, breast imaging, interventional procedures, ultrasound, and X-ray imaging services. More >>
ISPs accuse One NZ and Spark of anti-competitive 'satellite texting lockout'
Sunday, 26 April 2026, 12:15 pm | Bill Bennett
Journalist and industry analyst Bill Bennett reports on a potential regulatory row as New Zealand’s smaller ISPs claim they are being deliberately excluded from new satellite-to-mobile services. Also in this week's newsletter: 2degrees continues ... More >>
No Rethink On US, Drones On Right Path For Now, Says New Defence Minister
Friday, 24 April 2026, 1:23 pm | RNZ
And Chris Penk says the country is not movng too slowly on getting military drones, even though some other countries are accelerating quickly. More >>
Rocket Lab Unveils New High-Performance Star Tracker Optimized For Accuracy In Increased Radiation Environments
Friday, 24 April 2026, 10:04 am | Rocket Lab
The High-Performance Star Tracker combines enhanced resilience with a targeted pointing accuracy of better than 1 arcsecond, ideal for missions where radiation tolerance is critical. More >>
Seismic ‘Whiplash’ – New Research Shows What Happens When Earthquakes Stop Suddenly
Friday, 24 April 2026, 7:08 am | The Conversation
A new study uncovers a hidden pattern of ground motions at the end of big earthquakes that could help scientists and planners identify likely danger zones. More >>
NIWA's Hotspot Watch
Thursday, 23 April 2026, 4:02 pm | Earth Sciences New Zealand
As of 20 April, the New Zealand Drought Index (NZDI) map shows that abnormally dry conditions are currently found in coastal Taranaki, and southern Manawatū Whanganui. More >>
The Govt’s Plan To Improve Biodiversity – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 23 April 2026, 3:37 pm | Science Media Centre
The implementation strategy is much more focused on talk than on action, which is surprising for an implementation document, an expert said. More >>
Whale Strandings Draw Emotional Responses, But Repeated Rescues Can Cause More Harm
Wednesday, 22 April 2026, 9:47 am | The Conversation
Timmy, the humpback whale repeatedly restranding in shallow waters in the Baltic Sea, has reignited a heated debate about when to intervene, and when not to. More >>
How Bruce The Half-Beak Kea Weaponised His Disability To Become The Alpha Bird
Tuesday, 21 April 2026, 3:47 pm | The Conversation
A parrot’s beak is like a third limb, so losing part of it should be a disadvantage. But Bruce has developed many novel behaviours to compensate. More >>
Genetic Testing Solves Mystery Of Teenagers’ Sudden Deaths
Tuesday, 21 April 2026, 11:37 am | University of Auckland
The research team made the discovery using long-read DNA sequencing, an advanced technique capable of analysing large, complex regions of the genome. More >>
Areto Labs Tackles Rising Levels Of Online Harm Globally From New Zealand
Monday, 20 April 2026, 10:20 am | Areto Labs
Areto’s platform is used across sport, media and the public sector, including major international initiatives with FIFPRO Asia/Oceania for women’s football and Pride Cup. More >>
Analysis: the numbers behind a potential Enable Networks sale
Sunday, 19 April 2026, 4:12 pm | Bill Bennett
Christchurch City Holdings reviewed its ownership of Enable Networks, raising the prospect of a partial or full sale of one of New Zealand's four fibre wholesalers. A report in The Australian says Macquarie Capital has been engaged, with a potential ... More >>
Chorus accelerates copper network shutdown
Sunday, 19 April 2026, 4:10 pm | Bill Bennett
In this week's edition: Chorus moves copper network retirement forward two years. A look at the potential sale of Enable Networks. Amazon acquires Globalstar. More >>
academyEX Alumna Wins Global AI Safety Award As Areto Tackles Rising Levels Of Online Harm Globally From New Zealand
Saturday, 18 April 2026, 5:50 am | academyEX
Alongside the award, Areto is launching Face Forward, an initiative providing its software free for two years to women and gender-diverse elected officials and candidates across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific. More >>
Karamea Calling: The New Zealand Fungal Foray Goes Coastal - PLUS Fungus Of The Year 2026
Friday, 17 April 2026, 2:11 pm | Bioeconomy Science Institute
This Foray is the largest ever – with over 80 people registered to attend with several coming from Australia and North America. With permission from DoC, participants will be surveying approved native forests for fungi over four of the five weekdays More >>
Fuel Crisis Chance For Government To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Scientists
Friday, 17 April 2026, 1:46 pm | RNZ
The numbers showed New Zealand emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases fell just 0.1 percent between 2023 and 2024. More >>
New Report From Save Science Coalition Lays Bare Human Cost Of Science Cuts
Thursday, 16 April 2026, 3:00 pm | PSA
Save Science Coalition spokesperson and experimental physicist Ben Wylie-van Eerd says publicly funded science is crucial both economically and to New Zealand’s wellbeing as a nation. More >>
Scientists Left 'Homeless' After Government's Job Cuts, Advocates Say
Thursday, 16 April 2026, 2:50 pm | RNZ
Cutbacks have led to the loss of about 700 roles and the withdrawal of hundreds of millions of dollars. More >>
Preclinical Telemetry And Tissue Monitoring Technologies Advance Cardiovascular And Autonomic Research
Thursday, 16 April 2026, 12:43 pm | ADInstruments
The global preclinical research market continues to benefit from sustained pharmaceutical and academic investment in cardiovascular drug development and disease modelling. More >>


