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2 months ago | 
nzinitiative.org.nz | Oliver Hartwich |Michael Johnston |Josh WIlliams |Josh Williams
Webinar video: Trade Routes: Charting New Pathways from Secondary School to Industry Training This webinar discusses policy initiatives to strengthen vocational education pathways in New Zealand. Drawing inspiration from Germany's successful dual-training model, Josh Williams and Dr Michael Johnston discuss initiatives in secondary and tertiary education to enhance the status and quality of trades and industry training.
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2 months ago | 
nzinitiative.org.nz | Oliver Hartwich |Michael Johnston
Podcast: Trade Routes: Charting New Pathways from Secondary School to Industry Training In this episode, Oliver Hartwich interviews Michael about his new research report "Trade Routes," which examines how New Zealand can improve its apprenticeship system by adopting elements of Germany's dual education model.
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2 months ago | 
nzinitiative.org.nz | Michael Johnston |Mike Hosking
Reports & Media > Media > Newstalk ZB: Mike Hosking interviews Dr Michael Johnston on latest report findings Newstalk ZB: Mike Hosking interviews Dr Michael Johnston on latest report findings On his show on Newstalk ZB, Mike Hosking talks to Dr Michael Johnston about his latest education report findings.
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Feb 19, 2025 | 
nzinitiative.org.nz | Oliver Hartwich |Michael Johnston
Podcast: The Day the West Died: A Wake-Up Call for New Zealand In this episode, Michael and Oliver sound the alarm about the transformation of global power following a February 2025 phone call between Presidents Trump and Putin, where the US reportedly conceded to Russia's demands over Ukraine without consulting European allies.
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Nov 28, 2024 | 
nzinitiative.org.nz | Michael Johnston
You might think that a national organisation awarding research grants would fund the best proposals. You might even think that funding decisions would be made by experts who can identify quality when they see it. The Royal Society Te Apārangi oversees the awarding of the prestigious Marsden grants. In its 2024 round, Marsden funding went to truly cutting-edge projects.
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Nov 27, 2024 | 
nzinitiative.org.nz | Michael Johnston
Reports & Media > Media > RNZ: Dr Michael Johnston calls for review of NCEA system RNZ: Dr Michael Johnston calls for review of NCEA system John Gerritsen on RNZ questions whether to keep NCEA Level 1, following an Education Review Office report that calls it unreliable and unclear in purpose.
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Nov 21, 2024 | 
nzinitiative.org.nz | Eric Crampton |Michael Johnston
Podcast: How would age limits for social media work? In this episode, Eric and Michael discuss Australia's proposed law to ban social media for under-16s, examining how age verification would likely require government ID and create serious privacy risks as platforms would need to store this sensitive data.
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Nov 14, 2024 | 
nzinitiative.org.nz | Michael Johnston
Every Wednesday, New Zealand Initiative staff meet to discuss our columns for the week. It is part of our routine. Our meeting on 23 October, though, was a little different than usual. Former Prime Minister, Sir Bill English was in attendance. He was there to discuss policy recommendations made by our two newest researchers, both of whom had taken a day out of school to be there.
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Nov 8, 2024 | 
nzinitiative.org.nz | Michael Johnston
Every year in New Zealand, around 62,000 young people leave school. Just 6% of them enter apprenticeship training. Nearly double that – 11% – neither gain employment nor enrol in post-school education. That comparison points to a serious waste of human potential. In contrast, under the German ‘dual training’ system, fully half of school leavers take up apprenticeships.
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Nov 7, 2024 | 
nzinitiative.org.nz | Michael Johnston |James Kierstead
Podcast: Empire, Ethics, and Academic Freedom: A Conversation with Nigel Biggar In this episode, Michael and James talk to Oxford theologian Nigel Biggar as he discusses his experiences with academic cancel culture and argues that while the British Empire had significant flaws, it also helped spread important liberal values and institutions throughout the world.
