The New Zealand Initiative The New Zealand Initiative

In this episode, Oliver and Michael discuss recent education reform recommendations in NZ, focusing on the development of a knowledge-rich curriculum and evidence-based teaching practices.

Michael, who chaired the Ministerial Advisory Group that made these recommendations, defends the proposed changes against various criticisms and emphasizes that they are based on scientific research about effective learning, not political ideology.

In this episode, Matthew discusses his new report with Oliver which is about road pricing in New Zealand.

They explore the history of road pricing, international examples, and potential benefits such as reducing congestion and improving infrastructure planning.

Their conversation emphasises that while the economic case for road pricing is clear, the key challenge lies in effectively communicating its benefits to the public and gaining their support for implementation.

You can read Matthew's report Driving Change: How road pricing can improve our roads on The New Zealand Initiative website at https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz

In this episode, Michael and James talk to Toby Young, founder of the Free Speech Union in the United Kingdom, the associate editor of The Spectator, and a former editor of Quillette.

The discussion spans a wide range of topics including the challenges to free speech in academia, the evolution of charter schools in the UK, and the broader implications for liberal democracy, offering insights into the complex interplay between free expression, education policy, and political shifts in contemporary society.

This podcast episode is from our recent AI in education webinar where Michael presents his report on generative AI in education, emphasising its potential as a supportive tool while cautioning against replacing traditional learning methods.

Prof Barbara Oakley joins as a special guest to provide expert commentary on the cognitive science aspects. Oliver moderates this discussion, which explores how AI could enhance teaching and personalise learning while stressing the continued importance of core skills development, critical thinking, and teacher-guided instruction in the evolving educational landscape.

In this podcast, Nick and Eric talk to Sam Broughton and Simon Randall from Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) about the potential for implementing city and regional deals in New Zealand - formal long-term partnerships between central and local government to better plan and fund local infrastructure and economic development.

They explore the benefits such deals could provide, like aligning incentives, enabling tailored local policies, and sharing gains, while also examining the political barriers that need to be overcome.

In this episode, Michael and James talk to Dr Dennis Wesselbaum about issues with New Zealand's current university funding model, which relies heavily on student enrollment numbers.

They explore potential reforms to create a more stable and effective system that balances access, workforce preparation, and research excellence.