Into the weeds

Is cannabis a medical breakthrough or an addictive poison? Is it an engine of the gang economy, or a tax boon waiting to happen? Why does it inspire such passionate advocates and detractors?

In this major feature, New Zealand Geographic visits people who use cannabis for pain relief, and former cannabis addicts. We attend a police operation (pictured above) and summarise the state of research into this plant and its effects on people. Keep reading...

Join us for Photographer of the Year 2020

Join New Zealand Geographic in the Blue Water Black Magic Gallery of the New Zealand Maritime Museum for an unforgettably night of photography, food, conversation and awards.

Meet all the finalists, view the best imagery of year and celebrate with the winners as we count down to the Photographer of the Year 2020.

Tickets include drinks, meal, keynote address (TBA) and awards event. Limited to 100 tickets—purchase your ticket now.

Date: Thursday, October 29, 2020 
Time: 6.30pm 
Venue: New Zealand Maritime Museum, corner of Quay St and Hobson St, Auckland 
Dress code: Smart casual

The plant that's also a terrible pest

Pine trees were planted through swathes of high country and conservation estate as a counter-measure to erosion. Now, they've gone wild, infesting hundreds of thousands of hectares throughout New Zealand—and they've also been indicated as a possible fuel source 0f the wildfires that ripped through the Mackenzie Basin over the last few weeks. What should we do about these trees gone rogue? Keep reading...

How to gene-edit a tomato plant

Earlier this week, the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to two women who developed a gene-editing technique called CRISPR, a technology which allows scientists to make very precise cuts to DNA.

Gene editing has the potential to help eradicate pests, save threatened species, even cure diseases. So what are the risks? What could we use it for? And how should we decide? Journalist Kate Evans visited a batch of gene-edited tomato plants in a New Zealand lab in order to find out. Keep reading...

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