Jamie Morton, a specialist in science and environmental reporting for New Zealand's Herald, has spent the last decade writing about everything from conservation and cosmology to climate change and COVID-19.
Jamie Morton, a specialist in science and environmental reporting for New Zealand's Herald, has spent the last decade writing about everything from conservation and cosmology to climate change and COVID-19. He pursued a career in journalism from a young age, first studying media, then training under renowned tutor and journalist Jim Tucker in New Plymouth in 2004. After spending a year as a freelance writer for various Wellington newspapers, he joined the company in 2005, reporting on community newspapers in Hawke’s Bay. Following two years at the Wairarapa Times-Age, he had a year-long stint at the Bay of Plenty Times, covering health and local news. Jamie arrived at the New Zealand Herald in 2011, first working as a Tauranga-based branch reporter who covered breaking news and major stories from Coromandel to Taupo. His introduction to science and environment reporting was covering the Rena disaster in 2011: hearing experts calmly communicate science to a public furiously demanding answers left a deep impression. He took over the science and environment round soon after: and has spent the last decade writing about everything from conservation and cosmology to climate change and Covid-19. Highlights have included covering two major volcanic eruptions (2012 and 2019); the Kaikoura Earthquake (2018); travelling to disaster zones in the US, China and Japan (2013); the UN climate conference in Paris (2015); the Square Kilometre Array telescope in Western Australia (2014); and reporting from Antarctica (2016 and 2019). He's also contributed to two books and a UN desk guide for reporting on climate change, and won several major awards for his reporting: including science reporter of the year in 2013, 2016, 2022 and 2023. Over the past few years, he's been heavily focused on the Covid-19 pandemic, while raising a young family in his native Taranaki. Jamie can be contacted at jamie.morton@nzherald.co.nz.
Rivers in the sky: How NZ could face twice as many big rainmakers by century’s end
The country could be hit by many more extreme 'atmospheric rivers' in the coming decades.
‘Prepare for heat stress’: Extreme NZ hot streaks expected to rise
Scientists warn Hamilton's once-in-a-decade February heatwave is sign of what's to come.
Happy Feat: Chilean officials stunned as NZ penguin turns up 7500km from home
A native NZ penguin has made an 'extremely unusual' visit to a seaside city in Chile.
‘Critical tipping point’: When did things turn bad for the Hauraki Gulf’s snapper?
What's driven the decline of the oft-caught species? Scientists shed new light.
Mixed reactions: Govt's science revamp aims to drive economic growth
New Zealand's seven Crown Research Institutes to be grouped into three new organisations.
Revealed: Just how warm was 2024 in New Zealand?
New Zealand again saw one of its hottest years on the books in 2024.
Growing pains: Scientists paint troubling picture for NZ’s crucial farm pastures
Productivity gains in New Zealand’s plentiful pastures have now stalled, or even declined.
Christmas Day weather: Here’s what forecasters can tell us so far
Long-range forecasts suggest murky weather for Xmas: but don't cancel BBQ plans just yet.
NZ study: How peoples’ emotional cues shape views of genetically modified food
Researchers delved into Kiwis' perception barriers around eating GM and irradiated food.
Muggy days and nights ahead as humid weather system nears NZ
Much of the North Island is in for a sticky end to the week, while Hastings could hit 30C.
Explained: Everything you need to know about arsenic and drinking water
Drinking water testing has turned up slightly higher arsenic levels. Here's what to know.
Here comes the heat: Parts of NZ to hit 30C this week
Kiwis are in for an early dose of scorching summer days - and nights - later this week.
'Taste, texture, price': Why Kiwis have stopped buying fake meat
Will meatless meat ever appeal to the average Kiwi consumer? Researchers explain.
Long, dry spells loom beyond another messy week of spring weather
A front is forecast to move up the country – but there's also late-week warmth in store.
Why this new rat-busting toxin could be one of conservation’s biggest wins in ‘decades’
NZ scientists have developed a toxin that wipes out rats without harming other species.
Weather outlook: Saturday the soggiest in a rain-spoiled Labour Weekend
Labour weekend forecast holds little for Kiwis who'd hoped for some mid-spring sunshine.
Scientists reveal first results of bird flu sampling; health plan shows how NZ would respond to human outbreak
Sampling shows no sign of big-risk bird flu - but its NZ arrival is 'just matter of time'.
Downpours to hit tomorrow as heavy rain expected throughout October
A weather system is set to douse New Zealand tomorrow, with more expected in October.
Wind, rain and snow: More messy spring weather to hit NZ this week
Rainy fronts are set to sweep over NZ this week, with gale-strength winds possible.
Fishy claims: Supermarket seafood brands accused of greenwashing
Researchers find green claims on many products can't be backed up.
Major rainmaker to hit South Island tomorrow, second system brewing
Moisture-packed weather system is set to slam into the south as another looms.
Is NZ moving fast enough to prepare for worsening climate impacts?
Climate change poses a multibillion-dollar risk to NZ.
Explained: Why the Govt’s new gene tech shake-up is a big deal
The Govt says it’s ending what it calls a 'nearly 30-year' ban on gene tech outside labs.
Analysis: Why environment groups are accusing the Govt of a 'war on nature'
Green groups say the Government is 'waging a war on nature'. What are their main gripes?
33 hours of snow: MetService issues raft of warnings ahead of three-day storm hitting NZ
Incoming system set to deliver widespread wind, rain - and a potential heavy dump of snow.
Community groups call for cash as they fight to help safeguard native species
A major report lays bare problems faced by NZ's crucially-important conservation groups.
Ocean warming threatens multi-million dollar losses for NZ fishing sector
Scientists say warming could soon hit a tipping point for catch rates in NZ fisheries.
Forecasters watching for potential snow storm next week - and rare polar event
Meteorologists are picking the potential for a blast of snow across parts of NZ next week.
Severe weather warning as subantarctic blast to sweep over NZ
MetService has issued a raft of weather warnings as a wintry cold front hits NZ on Monday.
Loss of Government cash puts expertise in food sector at risk, scientists say; Save Science Coalition launched
A wealth of expertise may be lost from NZ’s food sector if a funding lifeline isn't found.
'It's clear we have a problem': Kiwis wasting $3.2 billion in food annually
Ever wondered what happens to all that uneaten food you throw out each week?
Major study: New science on bird flu and NZ
Testing of nearly 20,000 wild birds has told us more about avian flu's risk to NZ.
'Extinction threat': How scared should we be of bird flu reaching NZ?
The global spread of bird flu has scientists concerned. Here's what you should know.
First suspected case of cow-to-human bird flu transfer means NZ must be prepared
The risk to humans is still low, but NZ needs plan for 'range of scenarios', expert says.
Goodbye El Nino, hello La Nina? What to expect for the NZ winter and beyond
The El Nino of 2023-24 is officially over. What's in store for the rest of the year?
NZ virologist says spread of bird flu across globe is ‘definitely cause for concern’
NZ needs to be prepared for H5N1 bird flu, which is evolving surprisingly quickly.
'Atmospheric river' may bring more than a month's rain in three days
MetService issues a raft of new weather watches and warnings ahead of a big rain-maker.
Intense weather ahead: Rain-maker to douse NZ, flooding threat
A moisture-packed system is set to saturate much of NZ, with warnings likely to be issued.
Weather: March was NZ’s coldest in 12 years: What can we expect from winter?
If autumn’s felt a lot chillier than usual so far, you’re not imagining it.
Scientists welcome regulator’s call sorting ‘null segregants’ from GMOs
Scientists have welcomed the EPA's new clarification of GMO-derived 'null segregants'.
Why this month’s heat hasn’t been ‘just summer’.
If it's felt uncomfortably, unusually hot - even for January - there's data to show why.
Locals worried as more super-spreading seaweed discovered off Gt Barrier Island
Discovery comes amid concern some boaties are flouting rules to control exotic caulerpa.
Hot El Nino summer causing more algal blooms in NZ's rivers, lakes
Swimmers are urged to be on the lookout for potentially toxic algal blooms this summer.
Summer scorcher: Where temperatures could hit mid-30s this week
Temperatures could reach mid-30s in parts of NZ later this week, with humidity in the mix.
Year in Review: Tractor driver’s moa discovery gets even more impressive
Year in review: Moa footprints revealed to be second-oldest ever recorded.
Govt's freshwater reform sparks backlash from 50 experts, leaders
Fifty experts and leaders have urged Govt against reforms of national freshwater rules.
Climate change: Parts of NZ could be getting hotter and drier more quickly than we think
Scientists think a heating, drying feedback loop seen elsewhere could be happening in NZ.
More EVs, renewable energy 'critical' to hitting NZ’s climate goals
Commission warns country isn’t on track to meet its climate change targets by 2030.
What an ‘atypical’ El Niño means for your summer
An 'atypical' El Niño means there'll be variability amid driver's usual summer flavours.
Report reveals huge task of cleaning up polluted NZ waterways
Substantial reductions are needed in almost every region to meet water-quality standards.
Climate change: Where NZ risks getting adaptation badly wrong
NZ needs urgent rethink on how to involve communities in climate adaptation, report finds.
'Disaster': Calls for Great Barrier to be off limits for boaties this summer
Experts warn we're on the brink of an environmental disaster for New Zealand.
Rising sea levels increase flooding risk for NZ dairy farms
Scientists model the impact of rising seas on our dairy farms - with sobering results.
Why a South Island tractor driver’s chance moa discovery just got more incredible
Moa footprints discovered in Otago riverbed found to be second-oldest ever documented.
Marine heatwaves, La Nina and climate change drive warmest 12 months yet
Analysis shows record-warm run since last October as 2023 set to be planet's hottest year.
Explained: Why this El Niño is behaving differently - and what it means for NZ
Niwa forecaster says El Niño could peak unusually late - and may linger to next winter.
Interactive map: Is your community better or worse off than others across NZ?
What does where we live tell us about our wellbeing? This map gives a first-ever glimpse.
Worsening marine heatwaves threat to popular shellfish
Lab glitch unexpectedly delivers insights into how mussels will cope with climate change.
Scientists have a clever new playbook to control - and conserve - the possum
Scientists have just reconstructed the entire genetic jigsaw of the brushtail possum.
What is NZ’s risk of tropical cyclones this season?
Last cyclone season brought NZ's costliest storm. What does the next one hold for us?
2023 among NZ's warmest years as new climate change stocktake lays out impacts
This year so far has been the country's warmest in our land and seas combined.
Winter or summer? Why there’s more than spring behind NZ’s wild temperature swings
What's going on with our weather? Expert says these swings aren't just typical NZ spring.
How do we tackle climate change? National, Labour, Act, Greens, Te Pāti Māori and NZ First policies compared
Our extreme summer made climate change a top-five issue to Kiwis. Where do parties stand?
100km/h gusts possible for upper north on Saturday, amid ‘rough and ragged’ front
'This could be a significant event,' forecaster says of front to sweep up NZ this week.
‘It’s looking bad’: The four big trends to watch this El Niño summer
One of the strongest El Niños in 80 years has experts looking ahead to an extreme summer.
Plastic in paradise: What scientists discovered in ‘pristine’ NZ marine reserve
Scientists dismayed to find microplastics building up deep in pristine NZ marine reserve.
140,000 landslides: What scientists are learning from Gabrielle’s record damage
More than 140,000 landslides mapped in Gabrielle's wake to help build new forecast models.
Unswimmable: Two-thirds of monitored NZ river sites grade poorly for E.coli
A just-released snapshot paints another worrying picture for NZ's lakes and rivers.
Here come the windy westerlies: How El Niño is adding to spring’s bluster
NZ is in for a windy time over coming days and weeks - and it's not just spring to blame.
El Niño incoming: NZ’s climate to take ‘rapid turn’ within weeks
We're about to get a taste of the drier summer much of NZ will experience under El Niño.
Scientists sound warning for NZ’s ‘environmentally critical’ kelp forests
Warming waters are placing our kelp forests in peril, with myriad knock-on impacts.
One-in-a-billion risk of mad cow disease spreading through NZ blood donation
Experts say thousands of people barred from giving blood over 'extraordinarily low' risk.
This AI-powered pest-buster can pick kea from stoat
Clever traps that can pick pests from native species set to join NZ's war on predators.
Major milestone: EPA approves first methane inhibitor in NZ
Ongoing efforts to tackle one of NZ's biggest emissions headaches reaches major milestone.
Feijoa power: Can this Kiwi favourite reverse pre-diabetes?
The humble feijoa might offer a tangy new tool to prevent Type 2 diabetes.
Niwa outlook: El Nino brings welcome change to wet winter
After a wet start to 2023, NZ's north can expect a welcome shift to drier conditions.
Government agrees to nudge up ETS auction reserve price, lower unit cap
Govt outlines reset of ETS settings after legal challenge and commission advice.
Climate change: Just two in 10 NZ forest owners taking ‘direct measures’ to adapt, study finds
Major study finds most NZ foresters are aware of climate risks but fewer are adapting.
Here comes El Niño: How the next three months will feel different
Niwa's latest long-range outlook picks a cooler, drier flavour for much of NZ.
Why we can't see the flood for the trees
New data shows forest soaked up nearly 60% of rain during two deluges.