Latest news with #CatherineMcGregor
The Spinoff
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Spinoff
Walls go back up as open-plan classroom experiment falls flat
Once hailed as the future of education, the cavernous classrooms are finally being scrapped after years of complaints, writes Catherine McGregor in today's extract from The Bulletin. End of the open-plan era The Ministry of Education will no longer build open-plan classrooms, education minister Erica Stanford announced yesterday, calling time on a once-fashionable approach to teaching that critics say has failed to deliver. Open-plan classrooms, also known as modern or flexible learning environments, were rolled out from 2011 under then-education minister, National's Hekia Parata. Designed to foster collaboration and student-led learning, the model typically removed internal walls between classrooms and grouped students in large, open areas. But from the beginning, many teachers and principals raised concerns about noise, distraction and the classrooms' impact on behavioural issues. Now, after years of pushback, the government has confirmed all new classrooms will return to standard designs with the flexibility to open or close spaces as needed. The Christchurch experiment As Cate Macintosh reported last month in The Press (paywalled), Christchurch schools were at the vanguard – often unwillingly – of the open-plan movement, with many schools rebuilt post-earthquake according to the then-trendy principles of modern learning. Now they are among the most vocal in rejecting them. Rangiora High School spent $1.5 million retrofitting walls into its sprawling 3185m² open space. Shirley Boys' High spent $800,000; Avonside Girls' spent $60,000 on largely ineffectual acoustic dividers and screens. 'It was sort of the emperor's new clothes,' says Avonside Girls' principal Catherine Law of the open-plan trend. 'Everyone went '21st century learning', 'modern environments', 'no knowledge', and nobody was prepared to say, 'but that's not good teaching and learning'.' Now the tide has changed – but retrofits are expensive, and schools operating under public-private partnerships face additional barriers to making changes, Macintosh writes. In an era of fiscal restraint, many principals are asking how the government plans to help schools convert spaces they never wanted in the first place. The noise annoys There's no shortage of evidence showing what went wrong. Research has highlighted the negative impact of noise and distraction on learning, particularly for neurodiverse students. 'Nobody can learn, least of all these kids for whom education means everything to their future independence, when they're freaked out by their environment,' writes Australian former principal Adam Voigt, who once championed open-plan spaces but now calls them a failure. Studies cited in Ed Design Magazine show that noise in open classrooms can reduce speech perception by up to 75% for students sitting at the back of the room. Children with ADHD, autism or sensory sensitivities are disproportionately affected by this lack of structure and quiet. Teachers, too, have struggled with classroom management and identifying students who need extra help in cavernous, shared teaching spaces. Broader questions about modern education styles Open-plan classrooms are just one element of the 'modern learning environment' movement that took hold in the 2010s, alongside the introduction of student-led inquiry projects, cross-disciplinary teaching and the widespread use of digital devices. As the Herald's Simon Collins reported in a deep dive into the issue six years ago, teachers' roles have shifted from 'the sage on the stage' to 'the guide on the side', helping students take ownership of their learning. But as New Zealand's international rankings in literacy and numeracy declined, critics including the NZ Initiative began to question whether innovation had come at the cost of educational outcomes. Some parents and teachers remain enthusiastic about the flexibility and engagement that modern spaces can offer, especially when used selectively. Still, reviews have found little empirical evidence that open-plan designs improve learning. With this week's announcement, the tide has definitively turned – and the next challenge will be what to do with the thousands of students still learning in spaces built on a now-abandoned idea.
The Spinoff
2 days ago
- Business
- The Spinoff
Will 2026 be the year that Auckland gets its mojo back?
A new international report paints a bleak picture of Auckland in 2025. But with major infrastructure projects finally nearing completion, there's hope the city might yet reclaim its spark, writes Catherine McGregor in today's extract from The Bulletin. Have Aucklanders fallen out of love with Auckland? While Wellington often takes the heat for New Zealand's current sense of national stagnation, Auckland is in its own deep funk. As Erin Johnson reports in Stuff, the latest Ipsos Quality of Life Survey, released in April, found nearly a third of Aucklanders felt their quality of life had worsened over the past year – the highest among all eight surveyed cities. The most common reason, by far, was financial strain, with half of all respondents calling out the cost of housing as unaffordable. Traffic congestion, lack of parking and overflowing rubbish bins topped the list of frustrations in Aucklanders' own neighbourhoods. Small wonder, then, that Aucklanders are voting with their feet – not just crossing the Tasman in record numbers, but moving south in search of affordability and a better lifestyle. As The Press reports (paywalled), more than 10,000 Aucklanders relocated to Christchurch between 2018 and 2023. Top reasons for making the move included less stress and the ability to buy a home and still afford to live. A city stuck in neutral This sense of drift is captured starkly in the brand new State of the City report, which compares Auckland with cities like Brisbane, Copenhagen and Vancouver. Writing this morning in The Spinoff, Duncan Greive says the report's downbeat vibe is unmistakable. 'Across the three reports of 2023, 2024 and 2025, the city feels stagnant and decaying,' he writes. Mark Thomas, chair of the organisation that funds and commissions the report, is more specific: 'Weak economic performance, inadequate skills and innovation development, and disjointed and delayed planning are causing Auckland to lose ground, with the risk of falling further behind.' Auckland ranks well for resilience and diversity, but falls behind on experience, prosperity and 'place' – that is, the overall livability and coherence of the city and its suburbs. 'For all its history, cultural diversity and incredible twin-harbour location, Auckland is a city which feels stuck,' Duncan writes, summing up the report's overall theme. Amid this gloom, hopes are increasingly pinned on two long-awaited infrastructure projects: the City Rail Link (CRL) and the International Convention Centre, both now scheduled to open in 2026. A midtown miracle? As Garth Bray and Dileepa Fonseka recently reported in BusinessDesk (paywalled), there's growing confidence that the CRL, and particularly the new midtown Te Waihorotiu station, will be a catalyst for revitalisation. The area surrounding the station – a long-underwhelming swathe of the central city – is seeing a flurry of investment, with Auckland Council economist Gary Blick identifying 18 developments worth billions within a five-minute walk. Among them is the $450 million Symphony Centre, being built directly above the new station. Once open, Te Waihorotiu is expected to be the country's busiest train station, serving up to 50,000 passengers an hour at peak. It's not just about transport: the surrounding streetscape is being redesigned for wider footpaths, greenery and outdoor dining – a deliberate push to reshape how people experience the city centre, Bray and Fonseka write. The long construction disruption has taken a toll, but there are now tangible signs that a new phase is beginning. Pedestrian power wins on Project K In another hopeful development, Auckland Transport appears to have backtracked on controversial changes to Project K, the urban realm upgrade around the CRL's Karanga-a-Hape station. As Connor Sharp reports in Greater Auckland, after a fierce public backlash, AT has returned to a plan closer to its original, people-focused vision. The updated design – due to be voted on by the Waitematā Local Board today – restores pedestrian-friendly measures on Cross Street, retains a cycleway on East Street, and revives a plan to block rat-running traffic on Upper Mercury Lane. Councillor Richard Hills says the new plan will help reinvigorate the Karangahape Road area while making the entrance to the new station both vibrant and welcoming. 'It's not perfect, but it's a good result if everyone sees it as a compromise,' he says. In a city that too often struggles to deliver on its promises, Project K is a win for the urbanists – and a reminder that Aucklanders haven't given up on the place just yet.
The Spinoff
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Spinoff
What went wrong with MethaneSat – and who should answer for it?
New Zealand's first publicly funded space mission has ended with a lost satellite and a debate about how we spend our money in space, writes Catherine McGregor in today's extract from The Bulletin. A sudden silence in orbit When MethaneSat lost contact last month, it marked an abrupt end to New Zealand's first publicly funded space mission – and a major setback for local climate science. The satellite, part of an international effort led by the US Environmental Defense Fund, was designed to 'name and shame' major methane polluters. As The Guardian's Veronika Meduna explains, MethaneSat's main focus was on detecting methane leaks from oil and gas production worldwide; the New Zealand-led side project tracked methane release from agriculture, which accounts for almost half of our greenhouse gas emissions. Meduna reports that in total New Zealand contributed NZ$32 million to the mission – $3m more than the figure widely quoted in last week's headlines. Apportioning blame The questions now are less about whether MethaneSat was a good idea and more about whether its problems should have been spotted sooner. Soon after launch, the satellite faced repeated technical issues, including difficulties with its thrusters and unexpected shutdowns caused by solar activity. Nicholas Rattenbury, Auckland University associate professor of physics, points out that 'the principle of caveat emptor is true for spacecraft as much as it is for purchasing a car'. While NZ was not involved in the design and testing, 'we were certainly entitled to relevant information to make a fully informed decision on whether or not to invest'. His colleague, astrophysicist Richard Easther, suggests NZ needs to shoulder some of the blame. Speaking to the Sunday Star Times' Jonathan Killick (paywalled), Easther argues local checks on the satellite's design and readiness were too light, especially given the 'major problems' that became clear long before contact was lost. All experts seem to agree that New Zealand may have relied too much on assurances from overseas partners instead of independent reviews. It's one of the main questions that the postmortem, when it comes, will have to answer. Space agency under scrutiny The MethaneSat failure has turned the spotlight on how New Zealand runs its space activities. The New Zealand Space Agency, formed in 2016 and now with Judith Collins as its minister, acts both as regulator and supporter of the sector. Simon Hunt, writing for BERL, describes it as a 'one-stop shop' for space policy and business support, noting its advantage in being 'not burdened down with outdated policies and processes'. But some researchers argue this dual role can be a conflict. As UoA's Priyanka Dhopade and Catherine Qualtrough write in The Conversation, the set-up of the agency risks 'a conflict of interest between promoting sustainability and fostering economic growth'. Sustainability in space is a growing international concern, Dhopade and Qualtrough write. As the amount of debris in space continues to skyrocket (sorry), scientists are also turning their attention to emerging issues like 'ozone depletion from rocket launches and the accumulation of alumina and soot particles in Earth's atmosphere as re-entering objects burn up'. The rise of Rocket Lab While MethaneSat drifts in silence, New Zealand's biggest space player is enjoying a record run. Rocket Lab – officially a US company – is now valued at over NZ$30 billion, with the share price hitting a record high of around US$38 (NZ$63). The Herald's Chris Keall reports (paywalled) that two factors are fuelling Rocket Lab's rise: fallout from SpaceX founder Elon Musk's feud with Donald Trump, and the upcoming first test launch of Rocket Lab's 'much larger, crew-capable rocket, the Neutron – which will put it toe to toe with SpaceX for the first time'. But the company's success has also attracted protest, reports The Spinoff's Gabi Lardies. Critics have accused Rocket Lab of enabling military surveillance, including through launches of BlackSky satellites allegedly used by Israel's defence forces. Last Friday Rocket Lab sites were picketed, while Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa has referred CEO Peter Beck, Judith Collins and others to the office of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. Beck has dismissed the claims, insisting the company abides by New Zealand law and doesn't launch weapons. Still, the sight of picket lines outside a NZ success story is a reminder that space, like politics, is never free from earthbound controversies.
The Spinoff
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Spinoff
Why economists are betting on the OCR holding steady today
Inflation uncertainty is driving expectations that the Reserve Bank will hit pause on cash rate cuts, writes Catherine McGregor in today's extract from The Bulletin. RBNZ set to keep cash rate steady The Reserve Bank is widely expected to push pause on its series of cuts when it announces its latest Official Cash Rate (OCR) decision today. After six consecutive cuts since August last year — slashing the OCR from 5.5% to its current 3.25% — economists say the mood has shifted. ANZ's Sharon Zollner describes the call as a 'very close-run thing', giving odds of around 40% that the bank will cut. But the consensus is that acting governor Christian Hawkesby and the monetary policy committee will leave rates unchanged for now, Newsroom's Andrew Patterson reports. Financial markets are putting the chance of a cut today at under 20%, with a much stronger expectation that any move will come at the next review in late August. Mixed signals cloud the outlook As Interest's David Hargreaves explains, the Reserve Bank faces a complex set of signals. On one hand, GDP for the March quarter outstripped forecasts, rising 0.8% – double what the RBNZ predicted in May. But more recent indicators look weaker: retail spending remains soft, business sentiment surveys are downbeat, and the unemployment rate appears to be nudging higher. Bernard Hickey points out in The Kākā that the Reserve Bank's new 'Kiwi-GDP nowcast' shows GDP falling back into recessionary territory over the last three months. (See the graph here). Meanwhile, inflation remains stubborn in key areas like food, where prices climbed 4.4% in the year to May. Many bank economists still see annual inflation running slightly above the RBNZ's target range of 1%–3% for the next quarter or two. 'If it's short term that's not really a problem,' Hargreaves writes. 'Where it becomes a problem is if the public starts to expect future inflation and begins to act accordingly.' For the Reserve Bank, the risk is that high prices for groceries and other essentials could reignite those dreaded 'inflation expectations' – something it worked hard to rein in after inflation spiked to over 7% in 2022. That risk alone makes another cut today unlikely. Modest gains for mortgage holders For homeowners, the likely pause means no big drop in mortgage rates in the short term, reports Taylor Rice of 1News. Average rates have already fallen significantly as the OCR has come down: the typical floating rate now sits at 6.92%, while the average one-year and two-year fixed rates are both just over 5.6%. Infometrics' Brad Olsen says he continues to believe that 'mortgage rate cuts have largely run their course' unless the economy deteriorates further. Still, plenty of homeowners who fixed at higher rates are about to refix at these lower levels, offering some relief for household budgets. Such a modest boost for borrowers doesn't look set to spark a fresh housing boom. Asking prices are trending down across the main property platforms, Interest's Greg Ninness reports. saw a 3% drop in national asking prices last month alone, while Trade Me Property shows three straight months of declines. Combine plentiful listings with rising caution about job security, and economists see little chance of prices taking off anytime soon. Household inflation data back this October Meanwhile, The Post's Kelly Dennett (paywalled) reports that Stats NZ's long-delayed Household Living-Costs Price Index (HLPI) will finally return in October, releasing figures for the March, June and September quarters all at once. Stats NZ says 'technical data-processing challenges' are to blame for the extended delay. Unlike the Consumer Price Index (CPI) – the RBNZ's main target for monetary policy – the HLPI measures cost pressures faced by different household groups such as superannuitants, beneficiaries and Māori households. Its return will help officials get a clearer picture of who is feeling the pinch and how. A RBNZ spokesperson said it would welcome the HLPI's return, but the pause had not compromised the bank's ability to do its job.
The Spinoff
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Spinoff
Cold comfort as power prices climb and climb
While electricity companies rake in profits, pensioners and low-income households are rationing heat just to get through winter, writes Catherine McGregor in today's extract from The Bulletin. Bills bite deep as power prices soar For thousands of New Zealanders, the midwinter chill isn't just uncomfortable – it's also a major financial hit. Power prices have jumped by about 11% nationally in the first half of this year, and older people are among the most affected. As RNZ's Checkpoint reported yesterday , pensioners are resorting to drastic tactics – turning off hot water cylinders for days or going to bed before dark – to cope with bills that have leapt from $85 a month to over $130. Greta Bond of Age Concern Canterbury says older people, particularly those who live alone, are increasingly forced to choose between warmth and other essentials. 'I think it's a really appalling indictment of our society when you have people who are older who are having these challenges to their dignity and wellbeing based on a few dollars,' she told Checkpoint. If you're struggling to pay your power bill, all is not lost. As Shanti Mathias explains in The Spinoff, power companies have a number of support mechanisms in place, including bill credits, more time to pay and even funding for curtains, insulation and heat pumps. Gentailers profit while investment lags Behind the eye-watering bills sits a market structure that, Consumer NZ argues, is failing ordinary New Zealanders. About 85% of households still rely on one of the original 'gentailers' – companies that both generate and retail electricity – like Mercury, Meridian, Contact and Genesis. Consumer's Jessica Walker says these firms have not kept up with needed investment in new generation assets, instead enjoying record operating profits of $2.7 billion last year. Today the Herald reports (paywalled) that Mercury's ex-CEO Vince Hawksworth took home $3.8 million in base pay and benefits in 2022/23, making him one of NZ's best-paid executives at the time. Meanwhile, 'consumers pay the price for the lack of investment in new generation, as we have lurched from energy crisis to energy crisis,' Walker writes. Despite a 38% rise in residential power prices since the 1990s, the promised competition and lower bills never materialised. Instead, high dividends and asset revaluations keep shareholders happy while consumers pay more to keep the lights – and heaters – on. Gas price surge adds insult to injury The squeeze doesn't stop at electricity. Households with gas connections face another hit, paying separate daily charges for gas infrastructure on top of their electricity lines. With domestic natural gas reserves declining sharply, scarcity is pushing up prices further, reports Sharon Brettkelly for RNZ's The Detail podcast. Gas suppliers have started to hike their prices, with Powerswitch's Paul Fuge saying he's seen increases of up to 20%. According to Fuge, an electricity-only house will almost always be much cheaper to run than a gas-electricity house, and not just because of the double fixed charges. Gas customers also miss out on the cheapest electricity plans, he tells Brettkelly, because most gas suppliers demand that customers also take their electricity, and the cut-price electricity providers don't do gas. Government backtracks on gas price increases While households juggle rising costs, the government has faced embarrassment over basic facts. A recent cabinet paper promoting a $200 million co-investment in new gas fields overstated residential gas price increases by more than fivefold, Newsroom's Andrew Bevin reports (paywalled). 'In 2024, commercial prices rose by 58 percent, wholesale by 48 percent, industrial by 44 percent and residential by 17 percent,' the paper read. In fact, as the red text in the paper's margin clarified, 'The correct figures should read wholesale (25 percent) industrial (19 percent) commercial (8 percent) and residential (3 percent).' MBIE blamed a calculation error but defended its broader claim that prices are rising due to tightening supply, pointing to a 27% drop in natural gas reserves over the past year. Critics have jumped on the error, with Greenpeace's Gen Toop saying it reveals resources minister Shane Jones as having either 'a deeply inadequate understanding of the energy system in Aotearoa, or a flagrant disregard for the facts. Either way, this false information has been used [to justify] funnelling taxpayers' money into the pockets of fossil fuel corporations.'
