How to put teeth in the bill

At midnight last night, submissions closed on the Education and Training Amendment Bill (No. 2). The bill would introduce new measures to protect academic freedom, which is defined in the Education and Training Act as ‘the freedom of academic staff and students, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, to put forward new ideas, and to state controversial or unpopular opinions.’ These measures are sorely needed. Read more

Dr James Kierstead
Insights Newsletter
13 June, 2025

Newstalk ZB: Nick Clark's insights on AI in local government

Nick Clark was mentioned on Newstalk ZB's news segment discussing his latest research on AI's potential for local government. The segment highlighted Clark's insights on how AI could assist councillors by helping them analyse reports, identify key points, and flag inconsistencies, while emphasising that the technology would enhance rather than replace human judgement. Read more

Newstalk ZB
12 June, 2025
2025 06 13 submission

Submission: The Education and Training Amendment Bill (No. 2) - by Dr Michael Johnston and Stephanie Martin

1. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY 1.1 This submission on the Education and Training Amendment Bill (No. 2) is made by The New Zealand Initiative (the Initiative), a Wellington-based think tank supported primarily by major New Zealand businesses. Read more

Dr Michael Johnston
Submission
12 June, 2025

Webinar video: Smart Support for Councillors: AI Tools for Local Leaders

Local democracy in New Zealand is facing a troubling imbalance: mostly part-time councillors must process complex information prepared by full-time professional staff, often receiving hundreds of pages just days before critical votes. Could AI help rebalance this information asymmetry and strengthen democratic oversight? Read more

Dr Oliver Hartwich
Tim Brown
Webinar video
12 June, 2025
john macdonald square

Newstalk ZB: John MacDonald discusses Dr Michael Johnston's report on modern learning environments

John MacDonald discussed Dr Michael Johnston's report on Newstalk ZB, revisiting The New Zealand Initiative's research on modern learning environments. Dr Johnston's report, originally published in 2022, exposed the Ministry of Education's practice of mandating large open-plan classrooms without conducting proper evaluations of their educational effectiveness. Read more

Dr Michael Johnston
John MacDonald
Newstalk ZB
6 June, 2025

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