Nine To Noon for Wednesday 7 September 2022

 

09:05 Alarming results from trial NCEA literacy tests

Schools are concerned over the results of a trial of new NCEA literacy and numeracy tests. In June, year-10 students trialled the tests, which are due to become compulsory from 2024. Principals spoken to by RNZ say pass rates for the writing test were as low as zero, while in numeracy, some schools had pass rates below or about 50-percent. Overall results from the June trial of the online tests are expected to be published later this month, but a smaller trial last year saw failure rates of two-thirds for writing and one third for both reading and numeracy. Kathryn speaks with Alan Robertson, Deputy Principal of Burnside High School, Grant McMillan, Principal of James Cook High School in Auckland, and Nina Hood, education researcher and founder of the Education Hub.

09:30 $30m for urban development projects

Waka Kotahi is rolling out the next phase of its urban development programme, Streets for People, with $30 million earmarked for projects in 13 regions. The programme aims to accelerate the process for rolling out projects such as protected cycleways, better street crossings and low traffic neighbourhoods. It's part of the government's wider Emissions Reduction Plan to increase walking and cycling in urban areas and to improve public transport. The Streets for People programme will build on the 2020 pilot - which included the successful rejuvenation of Drews Avenue Arts Quarter in Whanganui. Kathryn speaks to Ellen Young from the Whanganui District Council about the project, as well as Kathryn King, Urban Mobility Manager at Waka Kotahi. 

09:45 Australia correspondent Karen Middleton

Karen discusses the latest interest rate rises, plans to ease Covid restrictions, Jetstar leaves thousands of passengers stranded due to engineering issues and is there a new era of Aussie tennis on the horizon?

10:05 David Christian: what will the future look like?

David Christian is a historian and Professor Emeritus at Macquarie University, who co-founded the Big History Project with Bill Gates - but his latest book focusses on the future. Future Stories, A User's Guide to the Future draws on science, history and philosophy to imagine what the world will look like in the next hundred years and consider solutions to the biggest challenges we face. 

10:35 Book review - The Facemaker by Lindsey Fitzharris    

Quentin Johnson reviews The Facemaker by Lindsey Fitzharris, published by Penguin Random House NZ

10:45 The Reading

Episode three of Stephanie Johnson's novel  'The Writing Class', read by Alison Quigan.

11:05 Music with Charlotte Ryan

Its Waiata Anthems week (Maori Music Week)  - Charlotte plays one of the re-worked songs, as well as introducing new singles by Marlon Williams and a new local artist called Summer Vee.

11:25 Christchurch children's singer songwriter says our children need more joy in their ears

Michal Bush is an award winning Christchurch children's songwriter and performer who says kids need joy in their ears.She writes and performs music for pre schoolers to 10 year olds under the name Music With Michal, and this year won best children's artist at the NZ Children's Music Awards. Last year, her song 'Brave' won best children's song at the same awards. Michal is mum to three girls and began writing and singing children's music when her first daughter was born a decade ago. Her music is now sung in schools and early childhood centres all over New Zealand, and she has an international following via streaming services spotify and apple.  On Friday, she'll release a new song all about helping anxious children get to sleep.

11:45 Regions leading the artworld from the edge

Arts commentator Mark Amery talks with Kathryn about examples of regional galleries leading the artworld from the edge. He's been at the Taupō Museum for an exhibition of abstract work by Sophie Saunders and Lisa Call. He'll also discuss an exhibition of Ayesha Green's work at the Tauranga Art Gallery. He's also a fan of Sumer - the commercial gallery in Tauranga, exhibiting Hikalu Clarke,  which he says proves even edgy art dealers can survive "out in the provinces".

 

Music played in this show

Track: What If I Can't?
Artist: Roy Noble
Time Played: 10.45