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.
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.
One region pushing 30C: Widespread warm temperatures forecast this week
The whole of New Zealand is in for some abnormal spring warmth toward the end of the week.
How scientists aim to model volcanic ashfall from the next major NZ eruption
Scientists are developing a smart new model to forecast damage from ashfall in real time.
Hikurangi Subduction Zone: Undersea landslides off Hawke’s Bay point to past mega-quakes
Scientists reveal new evidence showing how sudden, huge quakes can strike off Hawke's Bay.
Aucklanders brace for gales, hail, cold temperatures, possible blackouts; snow falls in Chch
A major highway in the South Island has been closed to due snow and ice.
Lightning and La Nina: Weather to watch out for this spring
Forecasters pick spring weather to be even messier than usual. Jamie Morton explains why.
Surprise findings: What scientists just learned about the major tsunami threat to NZ’s north
New simulations change what scientists understand about subduction zone's quake potential.
'Football field' of land: New maps reveal where NZ's coasts are crumbling fastest
Parts of our coastline are losing 'football field' of land each generation.
400 Wairoa homes impacted by flooding, highways closed across Hawke's Bay
The storm-hit East Coast begins to emerge from heavy rain, flooding and gale-force winds.
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.
Why next major Hawke’s Bay earthquake could cause opposite effect of 1931 disaster
Scientists shed new light on how future major earthquake may transform Hawke's Bay coast.
What scientists just discovered about NZ’s big-risk Hikurangi Subduction Zone
Study sheds fresh light on what makes mysterious 'slow' quakes at NZ's monster fault zone.
Four storeys high: The biggest waves recorded around NZ this year
A "one-in-3000 year" wave near Napier has been among the biggest recorded.
There’s a major earthquake happening beneath NZ - but you can’t feel it
'Silent' events occurring below NZ unleash equivalent energy of 6.9 quake in four months.
Explained: The science behind today’s big quakes
Today's big Hawke’s Bay jolts struck in an area well-known for seismic activity.
Transformed: Cyclone Gabrielle’s devastation viewed from space
New satellite imagery shows landscapes and coastlines transformed by the historic storm.
Silent enigma: The ‘7.0 earthquake’ that Kiwis never felt
Slow-motion quakes unfolding beneath NZ just released the equivalent energy of a 7.0 jolt.
NZ’s silent quakes: Scientists capture mysterious ‘slow-slip’ event
Scientists observe 'silent' quake powerful enough to raise part of Hawke's Bay's seafloor.
Subduction zone secrets: Is this how NZ forecasts 'megaquakes'?
Scientists may have new way to forecast mega-quakes in big-risk Hikurangi Subduction Zone.
Covid 19: How many lives did NZ's pandemic response save?
NZ remains one of only nine countries with negative excess mortality since pandemic began.
3302 cases today as Covid becomes one of NZ's biggest killers
One in seven recent NZ deaths were from Covid-19. So why are we growing indifferent to it?
Auckland families reinfected with Covid for third time
Te Whanau o Waipareira Trust is seeing more families reporting Covid-19 reinfections.
Hidden monster: What we're learning about NZ's big tsunami-maker
NZ's Hikurangi Subduction Zone is a sleeping taniwha. But we're learning much about it.
Three new cases since 1pm - one has link to border; AUT student among 10 cases - in lecture with 84 others
Ten Covid cases confirmed - AUT student was in lecture with 84 other students.
Earthquake swarm reveals NZ's hidden magma reservoir
Scientists think they've located the magma chamber within the supervolcano.
A large earthquake is happening right now - but you can't feel it
No one can feel it, but a large - and very slow - quake is unfolding off NZ's East Coast.
Budget 2021: Govt puts $28m into war against kauri killer
Govt spending $28m at effort to stop as-yet incurable disease killing NZ's iconic kauri.
Major 8.1 quake a rare and 'very notable event' - scientist
Scientist says 8.1 'thrust' event can spark tsunami due to rare size and shallow depth.
30C scorcher: NZ set to swelter in the sun; forecasters also on cyclone watch
Some spots could hit 30C this week, with warm, sunny weather in store for most regions.
It's the first day of summer! What weather lies ahead?
December 1 is officially the first day of summer.
NZ's mysterious 'silent quakes' may help forecast future tsunamis
Hidden quakes may be key to forecasting threat from big-risk Hikurangi Subduction Zone.
Anatomy of a deluge: What caused Napier's big downpour?
Napier deluge came with unfortunate atmospheric collision and a climate change tail-wind.
DNA analysis: Havelock North gastro outbreak could have hit more than 8000
Thousands more than thought may have been affected by 2016 gastro outbreak, study finds.
Five ugly figures that highlight NZ's plastic problem
Each of us consumes around 31kg of plastic each year - and the problem's getting worse.
7.4 quake: NZ 'lucky to avoid tsunami', says scientist
Early morning quake's side-to-side motion stopped it from causing a tsunami, expert says.
'This trend is not our friend' - 2019 NZ's fourth hottest year
Last year was NZ's fourth hottest on record - continuing a trend 'that is not our friend'.
Move over, mega parrot: Giant NZ penguin discovery
Scientists reveal another monster NZ bird - this time, an ancient 1.6m-high penguin.
How much ash would a Taupō eruption spread?
Layers of ash centimetres thick could fall on Auckland in a major Taupo eruption.
Hunting season shaping up to be quacker
Going shooting this weekend? Here's everything you need to know ahead of opening morning.
Study shows past rumbles on NZ's big quake danger zone
Scientists pull together most comprehensive picture yet of NZ's largest geological threat.
Swarm of quakes triggered by major 'slow slip' NZ event
Silent, slow-burning earthquakes can displace faults over days and months.
Report card on NZ's vanishing nature: Must try harder
More work urgently needed to arrest decline of NZ's vanishing nature, report finds.
Coming months to be warmer - with potential downpours
Niwa is picking a warm few months ahead - but with the chance of big downpours.
Students march over climate change: 'We need adults to listen - this is our future'
Student says although she can't participate in elections, being at protest "was her vote".
5.0 quake hits East Coast
A magnitude 5 earthquake has struck off the North Island's East Coast this morning.
'Peak' heatwave today, with temps up to 37C
Will this heatwave officially be a heatwave? Jamie Morton explains.
Rising seas threat to council infrastructure - report
As much as $14 billion worth of council infrastructure is threatened by rising seas.
New centre to keep 24/7 watch on quakes, tsunami
A state-of-the-art centre will keep a constant watch on NZ's biggest geological threats.
Typical or tropical? NZ's forecast for summer is in
There's a 50/50 chance of a typical NZ summer – or one even balmier than normal.
EVs travelling further than fuel vehicles - report
EVs averaging 14,100km each year, survey shows.
Three of four NZ freshwater fish 'staring extinction in the face'
A new study looking at plight of native fish and land use change paints a grim picture.
Niwa forecast: NZ likely to get another El Niño
It's now likely New Zealand will see another El Niño climate system soon.
EV owners: Cash carrots needed to wean drivers off petrol
More cash incentives are needed to wean NZ motorists off petrol, EV owners' poll finds.
More weather-related EQC claims closer to the coast
Study finds clear trends among $300m of weather-related claims paid out by EQC since 2000.
NZ's climate faces wilder, wetter, warmer, future
A top panel has laid out starting points for NZ to prepare for a warmer, wilder future.
Greenest Budget ever, says Greens leader Shaw
What's touted as the "the greenest Budget ever" puts over $600m toward environment areas.
What to expect this winter: The balmy weather continues
New Zealand is in for a warmer winter, as one of the hottest years on record rolls on.
Major Govt water review: Sector asks for new regulator
Call follows revelations that three quarters of a million Kiwis are drinking unsafe water.
Major report: What we've done to NZ's landscape
NZ now losing nearly 200m tonnes of soil each year, with consequences for our environment.
Our storm explained: A wild beast with a sting in the tail
Yesterday's storm was a strange stew packing a dying marine heatwave and side-swipe low.
What you need to know about NZ's tornadoes
On the rare occasion they hit New Zealand towns, tornadoes are dramatic events.
Record heat: 2018 our warmest start to a year, ever
It's been the hottest first three months of a calendar year on record, Niwa says.
The lake that lost its breath
Three years after his wedding at placid Lake Tutira, Jamie Morton asks if it can be saved.
Next three months: warmth lingers on
After our La Nina-fired summer, there's a chance spring could bring a meddling El Nino.
Our sleeping taniwha: Hikurangi's tsunami threat
It could kill thousands, but there's much about our main geological threat we don't know.
Scientists to probe NZ's tsunami danger zone
Scientists set to install listening posts deep in the high-risk Hikurangi Subduction Zone.
Waka voyage opens eyes to plastic scourge
An East Coast waka voyage has encountered a surprising amount of ocean plastic pollution.
Our hottest summer: what caused it?
A "trifecta" of big drivers combined to make this summer what will be NZ's hottest ever.
Gita 'revved up' by record summer's warm oceans
What could be a record summer has come with warmer water that "revved up" Cyclone Gita.
Q&A: The science of... mugginess
Sick of the stickiness? Here's where it comes from and why it makes us uncomfortable.
Record marine heatwave to 'energise' coming storm
Record "marine heatwave" could fuel a low-pressure system forecast to hit NZ next week.
NZ's 'bad' lakes: Where you should avoid
Scientists have begun a sprawling health check of hundreds of New Zealand lakes.
Come take a dip, dairy industry tells Sir Tim Smit
Dairy NZ invites the UK's Sir Tim Smit over for a dip in response to dirty river remarks.
Most Kiwis back charging for water use - survey
Most Kiwis across town and country think water use should come with a cost, survey finds.
Passions high over natural assets
What policies are parties proposing to manage and protect our natural resources?
A bone-chiller: Year's coldest morning
A spectacular clear night has led to sub-zero temperatures across New Zealand.
Cook vs Debbie: The science of the storms
How does Cyclone Cook compare with last week's big storm? Experts explain.
Are councils prepared enough for oil spills?
Fewer than half of councils have enough staff trained to respond to marine oil spills.
Gastro outbreak hot topic at water summit
The Havelock North gastro outbreak - and whether the same catastrophe could unfold in other places - is the hot topic at a major water conference underway this week.
Rocket Lab nearly clear for NZ space launch
The country's first rocket company is now almost clear to launch, after the Government signed off on the contract.