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Blessing or Bloat? Non-Academic Staffing in New Zealand Universities in Comparative Perspective

‘Administrative bloat’ – the idea that universities have too many administrators – is hot topic in debates around higher education in the US and elsewhere. Is there a similar problem in New Zealand universities? Read more

Dr Michael Johnston

Dr James Kierstead

Research Report

1 August, 2023

Media release: New Zealand universities in staffing crisis - Latest report reveals troubling trends

Wellington (Tuesday, 1 August 2023) – The New Zealand Initiative’s report Blessing or Bloat? Non-Academic Staffing in New Zealand Universities in Comparative Perspective, co-authored by Drs James Kierstead and Michael Johnston shows that a majority of staff at New Zealand universities are non-academics. Read more

Dr Michael Johnston

Dr James Kierstead

Media Release

1 August, 2023

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Research reveals there are up to 50 percent more non-academics than academics at unis

New research has uncovered how many university staff are working in non-academic roles. The New Zealand Initiative study found there are up to 50 percent more non-academics than academics. Read more

Dr James Kierstead

Newstalk ZB - Mike Hosking Breakfast

1 August, 2023

Reforming teacher education without carrots or sticks

Politicians are naturally drawn to top-down solutions. For one thing, they afford Ministers the illusion of control. Read more

Dr Michael Johnston

Insights Newsletter

28 July, 2023

Not too excellent please

NZQA would like help deciding what excellence means. The trouble is, too many students have been achieving it. Read more

Dr Michael Johnston

Insights Newsletter

13 July, 2023

The ‘reading wars’ lessons for teaching science

Sometimes, a debate over the school curriculum gets so heated, it is dubbed a ‘curriculum war’. A new draft science curriculum has been the subject of a national conversation over the past week or so. Read more

Dr Michael Johnston

Newsroom

11 July, 2023

The controversial new science curriculum

Michael Laws talks to the NZ Initiative’s Michael Johnston about the controversial new science curriculum.

Watch here Read more

Dr Michael Johnston

The Platform

6 July, 2023

The Ministry of Ignorance strikes again

New Zealand has produced some impressive scientists during its short history. Ernest Rutherford, dubbed ‘the father of nuclear physics’, must surely be foremost among them. Read more

Dr Michael Johnston

Opinion Piece

29 June, 2023

Policy Point non academic vs academic staff COVER

Policy Point: Victoria and Otago Universities employ more non-academic than academic staff

New Zealand’s universities are in crisis. AUT announced 170 academic redundancies last year. Read more

Dr Michael Johnston

Dr James Kierstead

Dr Dennis Wesselbaum

Policy Point

19 June, 2023

Media Release: A majority of staff at NZ universities revealed to be non-academics

Wellington (Monday, 19 June 2023) – The New Zealand Initiative has revealed that Victoria and Otago Universities employ more non-academic than academic staff, a situation prevalent in all New Zealand universities for the past decade. The findings, prepared by Drs. Read more

Dr Michael Johnston

Dr James Kierstead

Dr Dennis Wesselbaum

Media Release

19 June, 2023

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