The Mike Hosking Breakfast

A digital education expert is cautious of blanket adoption of artificial intelligence for exam marking.   Education Minister Erica Stanford says AI is already partly used for marking and expects it could do almost all assessments by 2028.   It comes as the Government plans to scrap NCEA for an entirely new qualification.   Canterbury University Associate Professor Kathryn MacCallum told Mike Hosking AI comes with its own complexities. She says it will solve one problem, but won't address how it affects education overall.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The leader of the Reform UK Party has called for police to release more information about those charged with crimes.  Nigel Farage believes details such as immigration status should be made public, saying it’s not in contempt of court for the British public to know the identity of those who have allegedly committed serious crimes.  UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Mike Hosking it comes after the arrest of two men in connection with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Warwickshire.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several interesting bits out of the NCEA changes for me.  Firstly, the "New Zealand Certificate of Education” actually sounds like something, doesn’t it? The same way an “A” tells you something.  The New Zealand Certificate or Advanced Certificate of Education is a “thing” you can get your head around, as in do you have one, or do you not?  NCEA is an acronym.  Under the changes you need to pass things. How wonderfully old-fashioned.  If you don’t pass you don’t advance, therefore when you do pass it actually counts. It means something and you have achieved something.  Having watched NCEA in action with five kids, it has been shocking. Virtually anyone could get it and that was, and is, never a good thing.  Under the new regime you take five subjects, and you need to pass four. There's nothing too complicated about that.  The compulsion around maths and language I am, in a way, sad about.  Choice is good and freedom is good, if you know what you are doing. If you're aiming somewhere specific a tailored approach is vastly more appealing.  But in a mass system you are vulnerable to chancers and the weakest links, and they were always going to take the joke subjects, the easy gets. And as such, wreck any reputation you might have hoped for around your qualification.  The vocational aspect is years overdue. Gateway and versions like it sort of touched on the trades and specific careers or jobs. But this fascination, if not obsession, we seemed to have had with university has been ruinous for too many.  Being a tradie is actually to be admired. It is not second place. The snobbishness around a university degree has got so absurd, you’ve ended up with any number of bewildered teenagers chasing arts degrees and Bachelors of Communication for no discernible reason other than that’s what they thought they should do.  I'm dreadfully sad though for the thousands of kids who have been messed around with NCEA. What's its value? What weight does a generation of kids place on a thing that’s been binned?  For some they got locked down in Covid and given a crap qualification, thanks for coming.  But onwards and upwards. It's a little bit back to the future.  But along with the mad open classrooms, isn't it fascinating how forward the old days appear now to be? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another Kiwi is plying their trade overseas, aiming to make it into top level racing.  Rianna O’Meara-Hunt grew up karting alongside the likes of Liam Lawson and Matt Payne, winning her titles before deciding to focus on endurance racing.   She was the first junior female to become an Australian State Karting Champion, the first female winner of the Rotax Max Challenge Rounds in NZ, and has won the NZ Super Kart Grand Prix multiple times.  After competing for Aston Martin in GT4 and racing in their academy, O’Meara-Hunt has set her sights on the F1 Academy.  She told Mike Hosking she backs her ability to get into the academy, and is really looking forward to being able to prove her adaptability and skill on the track.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A glass half-full mindset for All Blacks coach Scott Robertson after naming a group of six players as injury cover for the start of their Rugby Championship campaign.  Uncapped trio Kyle Preston, Leroy Carter, and Tevita Mafileo, along with Finlay Christie, George Bower, and Josh Lord comprise the back-up unit in the 42-strong wider squad.  Ahead of their tournament opener in Argentina next weekend, Robertson says injuries are a reality of the game.  He told Mike Hosking you never know how things will play out – you could get two or three years with a player, and then two or three injuries in a row.  Robertson says that when you get a double break in one position, it provides an opportunity for a less experienced player.   He says that you always want your best players, but sometimes it doesn’t happen.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 5th of August, we talk to the vocational sector and Education Minister Erica Stanford about the NCEA overhaul.  Should New Zealand On Air be using millions of our tax dollars to fund reality TV shows that aren't making money themselves?  Rianna O'Meara-Hunt is a Kiwi name to watch in racing, and talks to us about her big push to get into the F1 Academy.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New NZ On Air funding announcements provide some hope in a tough time for Kiwi made TV shows.  Their latest non-fiction funding includes more than $1.3 million for Celebrity Treasure Island and $750 thousand for Country Calendar.  Screen Producer's Association President Irene Gardiner told Mike Hosking with so little ad revenue, it's a high pressured, intense time for NZ on Air.  She says the New Zealand version of Treasure Island is thought of as one of the best in the world and is selling, so if we get more international sales, NZ On Air contributions can reduce.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Education Minister says balance of choice is a priority under its new qualification system.   The Government is proposing to throw out NCEA for two certificates in Years 12 and 13.   Level 1 will be replaced with a foundation test in numeracy and literacy.   Erica Stanford told Mike Hosking that after Year 11, students are free to choose the subjects which engage them.  She says the key difference will be when students study English, math, or physics, it will be against a world-leading benchmarked curriculum, and children in Invercargill will be learning the exact same thing as those in Auckland.   The Education Minister’s also looking at trimming down the variety of subjects available to students.  Stanford told Hosking they’re taking a look at the number of subjects and the amount of students taking each one.   But she still wants the option for children to take classes which excite them, like dance and drama.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland house prices have held firm through a busy July.  Real estate agency Barfoot & Thompson's revealed it sold 957 properties across the Auckland region last month – its highest July total in four years.  More than 46% of sales sat at more than a million dollars and new listings rose more than 14%.  Managing Director Peter Thompson says the market's holding steady and is ready to take-off when interest rates come down further.  He told Mike Hosking things are starting to move again with more first-time home buyers entering the market and more activity from developers as a result of the fast track legislation.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Excitement from the trades sector for a better pipeline for high school students.   The Government is looking to phase out NCEA over five years – replaced with a foundation test in Year 11 and certificates in Years 12 and 13.   It also wants to improve vocational pathways for students entering the workforce.    Motor Trade Association Advocacy Head James McDowall told Mike Hosking NCEA is an absolute mess.   He says it isn't effective when students only pick up occasional credits in vocational pathways.   McDowall also says NCEA has far too much flexibility – saying credits for changing a car's oil doesn't give someone the experience to be an automotive engineer.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.