Dr Michael Johnston talked to Michael Laws on The Platform about New Zealand universities' declining positions in international rankings, discussing factors like funding, research quality, and domestic policies. Dr Johnston suggests that while government funding is an issue, internal decisions by universities, such as introducing compulsory courses on Māori worldview, may also be contributing to their loss of international reputation. Read more

In this episode, Michael talks to Rachel Cooper, a Resource Teacher for Learning and Behaviour, about the complex challenges facing New Zealand's education system. The conversation covers a wide range of interconnected issues, from classroom behaviour and learning difficulties to teacher training, school governance, and the impact of societal changes on education, while also exploring potential solutions to improve the quality of education and support for students. Read more

In this episode, Michael talks to James about his recent report about the state of academic freedom in New Zealand universities, highlighting concerns about censorship, institutional bias, and self-censorship among academics. Their conversation explores the causes of these issues, including commercialisation of universities and the influence of progressive politics, and proposes recommendations such as new legislation, annual audits, and better training for administrators to protect and strengthen academic freedom. Read more

In this episode, Oliver, Michael and Eric discuss the recent elections in two eastern German states, Thuringia and Saxony, where far-right and populist parties like the AfD and BSW gained significant ground, while traditional mainstream parties performed poorly. They explore the reasons behind this political shift, including frustrations with immigration policies, economic challenges, and nostalgia for the former East Germany, while also examining the broader implications for German politics and drawing lessons for other democracies about the dangers of ignoring citizens' legitimate concerns. Read more

In this episode, Michael and Oliver explore the growing support for alternative political parties in former East German states and its potential impact on German federal politics, particularly regarding foreign policy and international relations. They discuss historical and social factors contributing to this trend, while also examining how these changes in Germany could affect global democratic systems and drawing parallels to challenges facing other liberal democracies, including New Zealand. Read more

This episode features Michael, with Oliver, responding to and critiquing statements made by Prof Peter O'Connor on RNZ about education policy. Michael systematically disagrees with O'Connor's views on the government's proposed education reforms, arguing that O'Connor misrepresents the reforms and presents false dichotomies between knowledge acquisition and creativity in education To listen to our latest podcasts, please subscribe to The New Zealand Initiative podcast on iTunes, Spotify or The Podcast App. Read more