In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Science Media Centre hosted regular media briefings with experts from various fields.
Watch the highlights from each briefing below.
How transmissible is the new COVID-19 variant in NZ? – 28 January 2021
Dr David Welch, Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland, discusses how the new COVID-19 variants spread.
A transcribed Q&A is available.
Latest developments in COVID-19 vaccines – 19 November 2020
Professor David Murdoch of the University of Otago discusses results from recent vaccine candidate trials.
A transcribed Q&A is available.
COVID-19 at the borders – 18 June 2020
Associate Professor Patricia Priest of the University of Otago discussed measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from people returning to New Zealand.
A transcribed Q&A is available.
COVID-19 and immunity – 22 May 2020
Dr Nikki Moreland of the University of Auckland discussed the latest research on antibody testing and immunity to COVID-19.
A transcribed Q&A is available.
The path to a COVID-19 vaccine – 13 May 2020
Associate Professor Helen Petousis-Harris, Chair of the WHO’s Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety and researcher at the University of Auckland, gave an update on COVID-19 vaccine development alongside Professor Peter McIntyre, Member of the WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunisation and researcher at the University of Otago.
A transcribed Q&A is available.
Influenza during COVID-19 – 7 May 2020
Dr Sue Huang, director of the WHO National Influenza Centre and researcher at ESR, discussed the impact of lockdown on rates of influenza with Associate Professor Nikki Turner, director of the NZ Immunisation Advisory Centre.
A transcribed Q&A is available.
Tracking COVID-19 with genome sequencing – 30 April 2020
Dr Jemma Geoghegan of the University of Otago and Dr Joep de Ligt of ESR discussed the use of genome sequencing to track the spread of COVID-19 in New Zealand.
A transcribed Q&A is available.
How NZ moved during lockdown – 23 April 2020
Freelance geographer Chris McDowall presented the results of his data visualisation project tracking our movements during lockdown, alongside Associate Professor Malcolm Campbell from the University of Canterbury.
A transcribed Q&A is available.
Estimating COVID-19’s impact on Māori and Pasifika – 17 April 2020
Dr Andrew Sporle of Te Pūnaha Matatini discussed the impact of the pandemic on Māori and Pasifika communities in New Zealand.
A transcribed Q&A is available.
COVID-19 testing – 8 April 2020
Professor David Murdoch of the University of Otago discussed the latest research into testing strategies for COVID-19.