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.
![Study reveals how NZ's biggest quake-maker stokes world-famous volcanic zone](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Study reveals how NZ's biggest quake-maker stokes world-famous volcanic zone
What puts the fire in the belly of a local volcanic zone that's produced monster blows.
![Kaikōura 2016 earthquake linked to unrest at Taupō supervolcano - 500km away](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Kaikōura 2016 earthquake linked to unrest at Taupō supervolcano - 500km away
It’s been a question on the minds of geoscientists - can big quakes trigger eruptions?
!['Devastating' influenza outbreak hits Whitianga - six dead](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
'Devastating' influenza outbreak hits Whitianga - six dead
Tragic Whitianga outbreak shows why infected people should avoid rest homes, expert says.
![Hot El Nino summer causing more algal blooms in NZ's rivers, lakes](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
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.
![Paradise regained: What the Hauraki Gulf could look like in the year 2173](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Paradise regained: What the Hauraki Gulf could look like in the year 2173
Scientists imagine a thriving Hauraki Gulf 150 years from now. Here's how it could happen.
![Scientists discover intriguing ‘mini eruptions’ at Mt Ruapehu](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Scientists discover intriguing ‘mini eruptions’ at Mt Ruapehu
A new data-crunching approach has turned up recent missed 'mini-eruptions' at Ruapehu.
![Ash buried in Antarctica puts date on Lake Taupō’s last big blow](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Ash buried in Antarctica puts date on Lake Taupō’s last big blow
Ash buried deep in Antarctic ice highlights the eruptive power of our famous supervolcano.
![Unswimmable: Two-thirds of monitored NZ river sites grade poorly for E.coli](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
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.
![The smart science helping pull kākāpō back from the brink](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
The smart science helping pull kākāpō back from the brink
Scientists gene-map most of NZ's kākāpō to create the richest dataset of its kind.
![Cyclone Gabrielle: Govt declares National State of Emergency](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Cyclone Gabrielle: Govt declares National State of Emergency
The Government has now declared a National State of Emergency amid Gabrielle’s fury.
![Explained: The reason for Gabrielle’s ‘pinball pivot’ near NZ](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Explained: The reason for Gabrielle’s ‘pinball pivot’ near NZ
A dog-leg pivot in Gabrielle's track means more intense weather for NZ. So what causes it?
![Keep it out, stamp it out: What's in NZ's pandemic plan?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Keep it out, stamp it out: What's in NZ's pandemic plan?
The Govt is under fire over its pandemic plan - but experts say it's working. What is it?
![Quakes in the Tron? Revealing Hamilton's hidden risk](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Quakes in the Tron? Revealing Hamilton's hidden risk
Hidden faults and evidence of past shakes prompt a rethink of Hamilton's earthquake risk.
![0.4 seconds from tragedy: 'I thought I'd killed a kid'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
0.4 seconds from tragedy: 'I thought I'd killed a kid'
Four-tenths of a second was the margin that came between Dan Hanara's life and death.
![Rugby got it wrong on scandal: Tew](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Rugby got it wrong on scandal: Tew
NZ Rugby executive Steve Tew admitted the people who run the game had not got things right in the way it dealt with the Chiefs scandal.
![NZ zoos join palm oil label fight](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
NZ zoos join palm oil label fight
New Zealand's four largest zoos have joined an unprecedented lobbying effort to force food companies to reveal whether they use controversial palm oil.
![Waxing lyrical at Mystery Creek](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Waxing lyrical at Mystery Creek
A smart new way to speed up honey production is one of many innovations to be seen at this week's Fieldays.
![Kiwi's 'once in a lifetime' meteor shot](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Kiwi's 'once in a lifetime' meteor shot
Wellington photographer says image of stunning 'shooting star' streaking across New Zealand night sky was happy coincidence.
![Thousands demand swimmable rivers](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Thousands demand swimmable rivers
Just days after New Zealand's longest river failed a major health check, a grassroots group is petitioning Parliament demanding action.
![Student sues Govt over climate targets](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Student sues Govt over climate targets
Sarah Thomson wasn't happy with the targets the Government has set to combating climate change - so now she's taking it to court.