Articles by Nathan Morton
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National
Goodbye El Niño, hello La Niña? What to expect from winter and beyond
Monday, 22 April 2024, 8:03AMForecasting agencies have called time on the El Nino of 2023-24. So what can Kiwis expect from the winter ahead of us? Jamie...
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National
NZ is being soaked by another atmospheric river - what are they?
Thursday, 11 April 2024, 1:51PMThey’ve powered some of our biggest deluges in recent years and caused disastrous floods: so what are “atmospheric rivers”...
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National
'Atmospheric river' may bring more than a month's rain in three days
Monday, 8 April 2024, 8:13AMAn inbound “atmospheric river” may deliver parts of the South Island’s West Coast one to two times their monthly rainfall...
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National
Scientists, staff call on minister to intervene in Callaghan Innovation restructure
Sunday, 7 April 2024, 1:08PMStaff at one of New Zealand’s largest research organisations have called on Judith Collins to step in over a wave of job...
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National
She was given a year to live - then this Kiwi-made cancer therapy saved her life
Monday, 1 April 2024, 1:03PMA groundbreaking, home-grown cancer therapy trial just hit another milestone and there are hopes to bring it to Kiwis, writes...
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National
Wastewater testing: Our biggest boozing regions revealed
Tuesday, 19 March 2024, 7:06AMA first-of-its-kind study has revealed small-town New Zealanders are bigger boozers than city dwellers. The just-published...
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National
Windy, wet weather blowing in with the cold for parts of South Island, heavy rain possible for Wellington at end of week
Sunday, 10 March 2024, 4:43PMParts of the South Island can expect a windier, wetter and wilder start to the week, with temperatures plunging by as much...
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National
Coming 'La Nina-like' pulse could prove big rainmaker for NZ
Tuesday, 5 March 2024, 8:48PMAfter a chilly start to autumn, forecasters say a “La Nina-like” pulse of subtropical moisture in the Pacific could bring...
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National
Scientists welcome regulator's call sorting ‘null segregants’ from GMOs
Thursday, 22 February 2024, 2:56PMRegulators have clarified that certain organisms derived from the parents of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) aren’t...
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National
Explained: The bigger picture behind the Port Hills fire
Thursday, 15 February 2024, 1:08PMDespite most of summer now behind us, New Zealand’s most dangerous fire conditions are just beginning. Why? Science reporter...
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National
'Devastating' influenza outbreak hits Whitianga - 6 dead
Wednesday, 14 February 2024, 12:12PMThe deaths of six residents in a Coromandel rest home highlights how “devastating” influenza outbreaks can be in aged care...
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Science
Comets, meteors and supermoons: A star-gazer's guide to 2024
Monday, 29 January 2024, 9:45PMComets, conjunctions, meteors and supermoons: there’s plenty on the calendar to keep stargazers busy in 2024. Science reporter...
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National
What scientists just discovered about one of New Zealand's most complex fault zones
Monday, 29 January 2024, 4:21PMResearchers have untangled one of New Zealand’s most complex fault zones, in a groundbreaking study with potential global...
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National
Just had Covid-19? This tricky variant was most likely behind it
Sunday, 28 January 2024, 3:43PMIf you’ve just had Covid-19, there’s a three-in-four chance the highly mutated JN.1 subvariant was responsible. The troublesome...
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National
What scientists discovered in Kāpiti: 'This was no small tsunami'
Sunday, 28 January 2024, 1:22PMScientists have uncovered evidence of a massive tsunami that slammed into the North Island’s west coast some 600 years ago,...
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National
Has NZ's Covid-19 summer wave finally peaked yet?
Tuesday, 23 January 2024, 3:44PMHundreds of people are still in hospital with Covid-19, just-released figures show – but a modeller is “cautiously optimistic”...
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National
Locals worried as more super-spreading seaweed discovered at Aotea-Great Barrier Island
Wednesday, 17 January 2024, 4:33PMMore super-spreading exotic caulerpa seaweed has been discovered off Aotea-Great Barrier Island, amid concern some boaties...
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National
'Keep an eye on this one': Tropical storm looms in marine heatwave
Wednesday, 17 January 2024, 12:35PMThe southwest Pacific’s first tropical cyclone of 2024 could form within days – but meteorologists say there’s no sign yet...
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National
Latest Covid wave 'disproportionately' hospitalising Pacific people
Tuesday, 16 January 2024, 5:28PMPacific people are again being disproportionately hospitalised with Covid-19 in New Zealand’s summer wave, prompting fresh...
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National
Fifth Covid wave hits new high as Govt looks at ending free RATs
Monday, 15 January 2024, 2:40PMNational rates of Covid-19 have surged to their highest levels since New Zealand’s fifth wave began, the latest wastewater...
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National
How sinking land is raising Wellington's sea level rise risk
Sunday, 14 January 2024, 1:17PMScientists have reconstructed nearly two centuries of relative sea level rise to show how gradually sinking land is compounding...
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National
Hot El Nino summer causing more agal blooms in NZ's rivers, lakes
Sunday, 14 January 2024, 12:08PMSummer heat is driving a spate of potentially-toxic algal blooms around the country, with swimmers urged to be on the lookout...
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National
‘Cooking with gas’: Forecasters surprised to find NZ in another marine heatwave
Thursday, 11 January 2024, 12:44PMMeteorologists have been surprised to see New Zealand engulfed by yet another summer marine heatwave, which is likely to...
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National
'Astounding' - 2023 was NZ's second-hottest year on record
Wednesday, 10 January 2024, 3:22PMLast year was New Zealand’s second-warmest in recorded history - and very nearly again its hottest - with Niwa citing La...