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.
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.
Mt Ruapehu’s crater lake cools to record level; what that means for eruption chances
Volcano's crater lake registers coldest temperature in seven decades of monitoring.
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.
Scientists discover intriguing ‘mini eruptions’ at Mt Ruapehu
A new data-crunching approach has turned up recent missed 'mini-eruptions' at Ruapehu.
Mt Taranaki could erupt with less warning than scientists thought
Sleeping stratovolcano Mt Taranaki could erupt with scant warning, new study suggests.
Severe marine heatwave looming: The alarming trends for NZ's marine life
A major new stocktake reveals more alarming trends for NZ's under-pressure marine estate.
Explained: How the Govt wants to price farm emissions
After decades of debate, farmers will be priced for emissions from 2025. How will it work?
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.
Covid-19: Further Stratford positive wastewater results 'very concerning'
Officials say it is likely infectious person was in Stratford area since start of month.
The 90% Project: Why NZ's vax drive must shoot for the moon
NZ needs sky-high vaccination rates to shield itself from Delta. But what's realistic?
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.
Sinister threats to attack DoC staff, shoot down choppers
Sinister threats about attacking staff, shooting down helicopters, among cases this year.
Blood supermoon: How to capture tonight's rare spectacle
Staying up to snap Wednesday's 'blood supermoon'? Don't bother with your phone camera.
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.
Fire and ice: The explosive past of Ruapehu and Tongariro
They sit kilometres apart - but the stories of Ruapehu and Tongariro are quite different.
Does 'people power' distract from corporate responsibility?
By focusing too much on ourselves, do we risk shifting the blame from big polluters?
Covering Climate Now: How can we move greener?
Amid rising transport emissions, one prominent professor showed us how we could change.
Saving the planet: Should you eat less red meat to combat climate change?
If all of us moved to climate-friendly diets, what difference would it make to emissions?
Covid-19: Where are NZers most vulnerable to an outbreak?
Maps reveal NZ's vulnerability to Covid-19, with major cities among most threatened spots.
Massey University floats latest moves in science shake-up
Massey shares next move in ongoing sciences shake-up, while fears over job losses remain.
Sleeping giant: What will the next Taranaki eruption look like?
Mt Taranaki is slumbering in one of its longest-ever quiet periods. How will it awaken?
Danger looms as NZ beaches heat up again - and may keep warming
After cooler December, NZ coastal waters are heating up again. Will they keep warming?
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.
Climate of fear: Thousands of homes facing insurance hikes
Thousands of seaside homes risk soaring premiums - or even losing cover - within 15 years.
$500m hotel bill: Should all travellers quarantine at Ōhakea air base?
Experts see case to move isolating returnees to air base - but it could slow 'brain gain'.
Leaders Unplugged: Taking a spin with the Māori Party's Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Jamie Morton meets the Māori Party's high-energy, high-achiever, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.
When will Taupo's next 'super-eruption' happen?
Four of the 10 recorded 'super-eruptions' in past 2.8 million years have happened in NZ.
'Absolute scorcher': Temps tipped to top 35 degrees
Drought-hit areas to go another week without rain, as Niwa forecasts weekend 'scorcher'.
'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'.
Where are NZ's worst swimming spots?
Dozens of popular swimming spots have been designated as no-go zones as summer heats up.
Climate change: How rising seas could cost NZ billions
In flood-exposed South Dunedin, Eleanor Doig says things are going to have to change.
Climate change: How bad could it get for NZ?
What are climate change's best and worst scenarios? Scientist James Renwick explains.
'Welcome back to the dark ages': Our measles disaster explained
Why are we still battling a disease that should have been stamped out decades ago?
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.
'Green' hydrogen: Could it save Taranaki's energy industry?
Taranaki's future as an energy powerhouse could be in "green" hydrogen, PM announces.
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".
Summer's over: Big wet on its way
A rainy end to month is set to bring much-needed relief to many parched regions.
'Peak' heatwave today, with temps up to 37C
Will this heatwave officially be a heatwave? Jamie Morton explains.
Scorcher! 2018 was NZ's 'hottest year' on record
NZ just saw its warmest year in one and a half centuries of records, scientist says.
Into the ice world: Why we should all care about Antarctica
Why care about Antarctica? what happens there, matters here, Jamie Morton explains.
Is this how we solve NZ's growing plastic problem?
NZ must swap its plastic packaging system to one where nothing gets wasted, report says.
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.
6.2 earthquake: 'Bending' Pacific plate likely cause of big shake
Today's 6.2 quake was likely the effect of "contorting" deep within the Pacific plate.
Climate change: Not too big, not too late
We're all frogs in climate change's pot - but there's still time to turn the burner down.
EVs travelling further than fuel vehicles - report
EVs averaging 14,100km each year, survey shows.
Keeping future global warming within 1.5C demands 'truly heroic' effort
UN report on limiting warming to another 1.5C should "end magical thinking", expert says.
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.
Tremors, rising lake temps signal 'unrest' at Mt Ruapehu
Scientists believe the lake activity is part cycle that's long been observed at Mt Ruapehu
'Exceptional, courageous' leader honoured
Dame Tariana Turia's decades of tireless work have been recognised with a top honour.
Rising lake temps signal 'minor unrest' at Ruapehu
Mt Ruapehu's crater lake temperature rising in step with an increase in volcanic tremors.
Stellar discovery could prompt a rethink on the universe
NZ astrophysicist in discovery that could change what we understand about the universe.
Our next big eruption: can we predict it?
Is it possible to anticipate when New Zealand's next big volcano will blow?
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 would a Mt Taranaki eruption look like?
A Mt Taranaki eruption could see fast-moving, hot ash flows spreading kilometres around.
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 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.
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.
Next three months: warmth lingers on
After our La Nina-fired summer, there's a chance spring could bring a meddling El Nino.
Our hottest summer: what caused it?
A "trifecta" of big drivers combined to make this summer what will be NZ's hottest ever.
Cyclone Gita: Thousands without power in Taranaki
Extra crews have been brought in to restore power in hard-hit Taranaki in Gita's wake.
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.
Seismic surveys may be hurting penguins
Oil surveys may impact the foraging habits of korora in the South Taranaki Bight.
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.
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.
Volcanoes keep quiet amid quakes
It appears our volcanoes have slept through the Kaikoura quake, with monitoring equipment showing only a few tremors over recent days.
Snow closes roads, forces evacuations
White-out conditions at Mt Ruapehu have forced the evacuation of dozens of people from the slopes today.
Crater Lake bubbling hottest on record
An aerial observation is being conducted over Mt Ruapehu today, after temperatures in the active volcano's bubbling crater lake rose to the hottest on record.