We all rely on the media for news and information, and would hope that some critical thinking and informed comment goes into the stories we see. This is particularly important in areas that affect us, whether in terms of individual welfare or national public policy.
We invite anyone to send us clippings or URLs of New Zealand-based print or broadcast media material that you think should be brought to greater attention, whether examples of shoddy journalism or excellent reporting. Send your information and comments to media@skeptics.nz or use our contact form.
For Reporters
If you are covering a media story with a paranormal or pseudo-science focus, you are welcome to contact the NZ Skeptics for comment at media@skeptics.nz. We can provide information, quotes, sidebars or a sanity check.
NZ Skeptics in the Media
- Delving into the centuries-old world of tarot – a rising practice in unclear times – Stuff (2023-01-28)
- Pukekohe poltergeist: Terrified residents call in witch after ghostly encounters – NZ Herald (2020-10-16)
- Is there anyone out there? UFO sightings reported in NZ – NZ Herald (2020-10-08)
- NZ ‘psychic healer’ promotes dietary supplement as Covid-19 ‘preventative’ – The Spinoff (2020-06-05)
- Misinformation runs rampant in the unregulated market of alternative medicine – Stuff (2020-01-22)
- How different communities around the world celebrate on Christmas Day – Radio NZ News (2019-12-25)
- Skeptics aim to shut down NZ tour by spiritual leader – Radio NZ News (2019-10-03)
- Corrections under fire for alllowing New Age group Bright Path to teach meditation in prisons – Stuff (2019-06-21)
- “Psychic information” and oxymoronic offering for police searches – Stuff (2019-04-02)
- Meet the kiwis making the paranormal, normal – Stuff (2018-10-31)
- Family rejects psychic’s disturbing premonition about missing Northland woman Theres’a Urlich – NZ Herald (2018-09-20)
- Taxpayers foot bill when chiropractic treatment goes wrong – Stuff (2018-07-15)
- Council boss uses divining to find rods and cable, while skeptics pour cold water on it – Stuff (2018-02-02)
- Sensing murder psychics ‘entertainment value’ according to show’s researcher – NZ Herald (2017-07-30)
- Kiwi schoolgirl punished for trying to summon a ghost – NZ Herald (2017-06-21)
- Who are the men who say they can predict earthquakes – Stuff (2017-01-20)
- Skeptics refute claimed video evidence that historic Auckland homestead is haunted by ghost – Stuff (2016-04-18)
- Is there a scientific basis for water divining? – The Press (2016-02-13)
- Sensing Murder episode reruns questioned – Stuff (2016-01-20)
- Demon-like figure appears in pregnant woman’s ultrasound scan – Stuff (2016-01-04)
- Particular palm lines mark people as special, study says – but sceptics disagree – Stuff (2015-12-24)
- New Plymouth man gives up retail management to be a ghost-buster – Taranaki Daily News (2015-12-21)
- Skeptics give Pharmacy Council dud award for ‘weakening’ ethics – Pharmacy Today (2015-11-26)
- Skeptics Conference 2015 – Should I become a vegan? – SciBlogs | Molecular Matters (2015-11-23)
- Pharmacy Council’s Code of Ethics Proposal: Submissions Roundup – SciBlogs | Honest Universe (2015-10-16)
- Pharmacy Council moves to change code of ethics over homeopathy – Radio NZ National (2015-10-14)
- This girl reads while blindfolded using her ‘third eye’ – Rotorua Daily Post (2015-07-29)
- Hunting bumps in the night – Waikato Times (2015-07-25)
- The ubiquitous Mr Latta – Stuff (2015-03-01)
- Delivering messages from beyond the grave – The Dominion Post (2015-03-01)
- The psychology of conspiracy belief – The Dominion Post (2014-12-13)
- New Zealand Skeptics Conference: Fighting Pseudoscience – SciBlogs | Honest Universe (2014-12-09)
- Nicholson ‘delivers mail’ from other side – Manawatu Standard (2014-08-11)
- Haunting image left for capital sleuths to probe – The Dominion Post (2014-08-09)
- Ken Ring pontificates on climate change – SciBlogs | Open Parachute (2014-07-13)
- Spooky surprise in Dunedin skies – Otago Daily Times (2014-06-25)
- Skeptics look beyond belief – The Dominion Post (2014-06-01)
- Psychics helped search – Taranaki Daily News (2014-04-03)
- Shelley Bridgeman: Do you believe in magnetic therapy? – NZ Herald (2013-11-26)
- Prayer can cure, says preacher – The Dominion Post (2013-11-08)
- Busy year for UFO sightings – Sunday Star Times (2013-10-27)
- Family outraged by psychic’s claims – Newshub (2013-09-13)
- Psychic upset at charlatans – Waikato Times (2013-09-11)
- A psychic faces a room of skeptics – SciBlogs | Griffin’s Gadgets (2013-09-09)
- My Skeptics Conference 2013 talk and slides – ‘Nerds, nerds everywhere’ – SciBlogs | misc.ience (2013-09-09)
- TV psychic tries to convince sceptics – Newshub (2013-09-08)
- Why 1080 is a dirty word – Stuff Blogs (2013-08-02)
- Moon Man says he forecast big quake – Herald on Sunday (2013-07-28)
- Daydream believing doesn’t make it so – Stuff Blogs (2013-06-09)
- Shelley Bridgeman: Is homeopathy a sham? – NZ Herald (2013-05-02)
- BioMag millionaire ‘humble Kiwi’ – Sunday Star Times (2013-01-27)
- Vicki Hyde – NZ Order of Merit for Services to Science – SciBlogs | Molecular Matters (2012-12-31)
- Selfless volunteers honoured for services – The Press (2012-12-31)
- Twelve Questions with Vicki Hyde – NZ Herald (2012-12-20)
- Ending the world on a high note – Herald on Sunday (2012-12-09)
- Miracle healing – exercise in faith – The Press (2012-10-13)
- I only want to help: Psychic to sceptics – The Press (2012-09-29)
- Kiwi pond scum makes a splash – Sunday Star Times (2012-09-23)
- NZ food fads on conference menu – Otago Daily Times (2012-09-03)
- NZ Skeptics Conference Reflections – Best Time Ever! – SciBlogs | Molecular Matters (2012-09-02)
- Sceptics gathering to doubt things tomorrow – Otago Daily Times (2012-08-30)
- Family at house of the dead call in ghostbusters – The Press (2012-08-19)
- Podcast: Skeptics, eruptions and the male pill – SciBlogs | Podcast (2012-08-17)
- NZ Skeptics Conference 2012 – SciBlogs | Code for Life (2012-08-13)
- TV psychics ‘exploited’ Furlong – NZ Skeptics – Newshub (2012-06-25)
- Hard to get into the spirit of the supposedly supernatural – Otago Daily Times (2012-06-13)
- UFO sightings soar – Auckland Now (2012-05-28)
- UFOs fly under cops’ radar – The Northern Advocate (2012-05-23)
- UFO alarm sounds around North Island – Bay of Plenty Times (2012-05-20)
- Haunted by the memory of these visits – NZ Herald (2012-05-19)
- Scientists look at how quake information explained – Radio NZ News (2012-02-20)
- No scientific proof – Taranaki Daily News (2012-02-15)
- Sleepy milk’ tests on restless – The Press (2012-02-14)
- Doctor’s views offend family of cancer boy – The Nelson Mail (2012-02-10)
- Controversial’ book from dead wife – Kapiti Observer (2012-02-07)
- Medical profession disputes ‘quack potions’ – Bay of Plenty Times (2012-02-04)
- Get nominating for the Skeptics Awards 2011! – SciBlogs | Infectious Thoughts (2011-12-11)
- Waikato’s most haunted – Waikato Times (2011-12-09)
- Sensing a rise in psychic beliefs – Dominion Post (2011-12-07)
- Following On: Consciousness Or Coincidence – Radio NZ National (2011-11-07)
- Ghost hunters in for the chill – Herald on Sunday (2011-11-06)
- Feeling ok? – Marlborough Express (2011-10-06)
- No secret agenda – scientist – The Press (2011-08-27)
- Taking aim at the inane – Otago Daily Times (2011-08-27)
- Ken Ring of Fire – SunLive (2011-08-18)
- Bent spoons galore for coverage of “charlatan” Ring – SciBlogs | Griffin’s Gadgets (2011-08-15)
- Ken Ring coverage wins Skeptics’ Bent Spoon award – NZ Herald (2011-08-12)
- Award for gullible media over ‘Moon Man’ – Otago Daily Times (2011-08-12)
- Dealing with Wingnuts – which way to turn? – SciBlogs | Molecular Matters (2011-06-25)
- Learning from Even the Harshest of Critics – SciBlogs | Molecular Matters (2011-06-25)
- Godzone spared from The Rapture – Newshub (2011-05-21)
- Skeptics deny the end is nigh – Newshub (2011-05-21)
- When doomsday forecasts go wrong – NZ Herald (2011-05-21)
- Apocalypse almost: World waits for Rapture – NZ Herald (2011-05-21)
- NZ Skeptics slam Apocalypse warning – Stuff (2011-05-21)
- Ken Ring now fears for his life – Wairarapa Times Age (2011-04-24)
- Ken Ring flees death threats – Wairarapa Times Age (2011-04-23)
- Anthony Doesburg : Quake’s shock brings web team back to basics – NZ Herald (2011-04-18)
- Strange sightings in Bay skies – UFOs? – Bay of Plenty Times (2011-04-17)
- Earthquakes part of life in NZ – GNS – Hawkes Bay Today (2011-03-22)
- Judgement Day? Yeah, right – Hawkes Bay Today (2011-03-22)
- Seismologist says better to be prepared than scared – NZ Herald (2011-03-22)
- Skeptics question Evangelical billboards – Auckland Now (2011-03-22)
- Judgement Day? Yeah, right – Otago Daily Times (2011-03-22)
- False earthquake prediction sparks unnecessary fear – Hawkes Bay Today (2011-03-21)
- 5.1 quake but Moon Man link ruled out – NZ Herald (2011-03-21)
- NZ Skeptics gather to mock so-called moon man – Radio NZ National (2011-03-21)
- Moon man’s quake prediction no great shakes – The Dominion Post (2011-03-21)
- Skeptics take aim at Moon Man – The Press (2011-03-21)
- False earthquake prediction sparks unnecessary fear – Otago Daily Times (2011-03-20)
- Ken Ring predicts quake will strike today – Newshub (2011-03-19)
- So, can Ken Ring predict the future? – Otago Daily Times (2011-03-19)
- Moon Man quiet on protest lunch – The Press (2011-03-14)
- Christchurch earthquake: Sceptics take aim at Ken Ring – Herald on Sunday (2011-03-13)
- Christchurch earthquake: Solidarity of those left behind – Herald on Sunday (2011-03-06)
- Prophecy will come true … eventually – The Dominion Post (2011-02-07)
- Dutton’s debate is not over – The Press (2011-01-10)
- Denis Dutton remembered – Radio NZ National (2010-12-30)
- RIP: “Arch sceptic” Denis Dutton – SciBlogs | Guest Work (2010-12-29)
- Christchurch family claims to have spotted UFOs – Newshub (2010-12-23)
- UFO mystery remains unsolved – Bay of Plenty Times (2010-12-23)
- More ghosts’ after earthquake – The Press (2010-11-08)
- Breast thermography heat is on – Sunday Star Times (2010-11-07)
- Crazy science letter of the week part 13 – SciBlogs | Griffin’s Gadgets (2010-09-02)
- How many ways can you spell QUACK? – SciBlogs | Griffin’s Gadgets (2010-08-17)
- The end is definitely not nigh, say NZ Skeptics – Herald on Sunday (2010-08-15)
- Annual Skeptics conference held in Auckland – Newshub (2010-08-14)
- Moses case ‘won’t stop makutu lifting’ – The Dominion Post (2010-08-14)
- Rural women organisation gets Bent Spoon award – Radio NZ News (2010-08-11)
- UFOs seen in skies – Auckland Now (2010-08-06)
- Bloody minded – why we’re fascinated by vampires – Sunday Star Times (2010-07-18)
- No accounting for mistakes – NZ Herald (2010-07-17)
- Heavens aligning for fiery possum cure – Waikato Times (2010-07-17)
- Skeptics put NearZero deception in firing line – The Nelson Mail (2010-07-10)
- Victoria tries to dilute homoeopathy problem – The Dominion Post (2010-06-24)
- Supernatural forces at work – Manawatu Standard (2010-04-13)
- Lactose Intolerant – SciBlogs | MacDoctor (2010-02-11)
- Homeopathic remedies ‘overpriced’ water – skeptics – Newshub (2010-01-30)
- Plea for pharmacists to ditch stock – The Press (2010-01-30)
- Mass overdose of alternative medicines planned – Newshub (2010-01-29)
- Mass overdose planned – SciBlogs | Guest Work (2010-01-28)
- UFO papers to be made public – The Press (2010-01-23)
- Review: Kelvin Cruickshank Soul Food – Waikato Times (2009-12-10)
- TVNZ psychic slammed for ‘exploiting’ family’s grief – Newshub (2009-10-13)
- Psychic wrong on Aisling, sceptics say – NZ Herald (2009-10-13)
- Aisling psychic prediction criticised – Stuff (2009-10-13)
- Environmental Issues Deserve Better Treatment by our Media – SciBlogs | Guest Work (2009-09-30)
- Skeptics hammer 1080 documentary – SciBlogs | Griffin’s Gadgets (2009-09-28)
- 1080 documentary wins Bent-Spoon Award – Newshub (2009-09-25)
- I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but … – Sunday Star Times (2009-09-20)
- Skeptics gather to ask the hard questions – Newshub (2009-08-11)
- Papers lap up saucers – Otago Daily Times (2009-08-08)
- Ghostly photos spark debate – Waikato Times (2009-05-04)
- Busy appointment book for clairvoyant – Herald on Sunday (2009-04-26)
- Letters, February 6: Kiwis held to ransom – Waikato Times (2009-04-08)
- Sensing Murder boosts ‘new age’ health care – NewsWire (2009-03-14)
- $2m in govt funding paid to Maori healers – The Press (2009-01-16)
- How to deal with the ‘is Santa real?’ – The Dominion Post (2009-01-01)
- Sensing Murder’s Kelvin Cruickshank – Sunday Star Times (2009-01-01)
- Deliver us from our demons – Waikato Times (2009-01-01)
- Weird and wacky but is it really believable? – Waikato Times (2008-09-26)
- Psychic TV called ‘exploitainment’ – The Dominion Post (2008-09-06)
- What do Kiwis really believe? – Sunday Star Times (2008-08-09)
- TV3’s toxin avenger vows she will never give up – Sunday Star Times (2008-05-25)
- Sensing Murder or making a killing? Television psychics stir up debate – Touchstone (2008-03-01)
- Oh water, where art thou? – NZ Farmer (2008-02-29)
- Psychics’ tricks of the trade – Sunday Star Times (2008-01-31)
- Hunting mythical creatures – Sunday Star Times (2008-01-27)
- Magician a truly great headline act – The Press (2007-09-24)
- Scepticism will be rife at national conference – NZ Herald (2007-09-20)
- TV3 wins praise and criticism from Skeptics – NZ Herald (2007-09-19)
- Psychic addicts shell out big dollars – The Press (2007-08-06)
- Mystical day out written in cards – NZ Herald (2006-09-01)
- Philippa Stevenson: Happy birthday to Planet Earth – NZ Herald (2005-10-26)
- Skeptics’ prize goes to education group – NZ Herald (2005-09-24)
- Church tells followers to use prayer to heal illness – Herald on Sunday (2005-07-24)
- Ghostbusting clergy on the case – NZ Herald (2003-09-30)
- Powerpoint: No intelligent life – Canvas (2003-06-11)
- Second home puts taniwha out of the way – NZ Herald (2002-11-08)
- Greens ridiculed for pest response – NZ Herald (2002-03-26)
- Feng shui ethos counts at new Auckland bank – NZ Herald (2001-12-20)
- Exorcists still busy among us – NZ Herald (2001-12-07)
- NZ professor named in $39m website lawsuit – NZ Herald (2001-11-08)
- Smells can cure but only if you follow your nose – Herald Online (2001-04-28)
- On a regular bender – NZ Herald (2000-09-03)
- Special healing claims win hospital Bent Spoon Award – NZ Herald (2000-08-25)