New Zealand Listener Issue 11 2021

A few weeks ago, New Zealanders would have laughed at the idea that Covid-ravaged Britain would be showing us how pandemic management should be done. Now, such a high percentage of Britons had their first vaccinations that they’ve been promised Covid passports for international travel by July. By then, this country will just be starting on its main vaccination programme; its would-be travellers will be lucky if a handful of countries are open to them. So, what’s happened to make the difference? The British Government and bureaucratic leadership have had the sense to suspend some “peace-time” protocols, to allow more patient data-sharing and to engage in strategic joint work with private-sector experts. Belatedly, they realised that crisis management means some normal processes are more hindrance than safeguard and they took…

A few weeks ago, New Zealanders would have laughed at the idea that Covid-ravaged Britain would be showing us how pandemic management should be done. Now, such a high percentage of Britons had their first vaccinations that they’ve been promised Covid passports for international travel by July. By then, this country will just be starting on its main vaccination programme; its would-be travellers will be lucky if a handful of countries are open to them. So, what’s happened to make the difference? The British Government and bureaucratic leadership have had the sense to suspend some “peace-time” protocols, to allow more patient data-sharing and to engage in strategic joint work with private-sector experts. Belatedly, they realised that crisis management means some normal processes are more hindrance than safeguard and they took some calculated…

I cannot agree with those who argue that neuroscience has shown that a so-called “structured, scientific” approach to literacy teaching, informed by brain research, would reverse our woeful literacy statistics (Letters, March 6). I have read “scientific” articles by neuroscientists who claim the opposite case, pointing to the adoption of Whole Language policies beloved of our teachers, under the influence of Dame Marie Clay, Myrtle Simpson, Don Holdaway and others – policies that saw our students performing so impressively in international surveys between 1970 and 2000. However, many neuroscientists argue that little can yet be concluded from the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) research on literacy teaching. For instance, their research does not capture the brain’s activity in real time. There is a 3-5-second lag between the brain’s activity and…

I cannot agree with those who argue that neuroscience has shown that a so-called “structured, scientific” approach to literacy teaching, informed by brain research, would reverse our woeful literacy statistics (Letters, March 6). I have read “scientific” articles by neuroscientists who claim the opposite case, pointing to the adoption of Whole Language policies beloved of our teachers, under the influence of Dame Marie Clay, Myrtle Simpson, Don Holdaway and others – policies that saw our students performing so impressively in international surveys between 1970 and 2000. However, many neuroscientists argue that little can yet be concluded from the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) research on literacy teaching. For instance, their research does not capture the brain’s activity in real time. There is a 3-5-second lag between the brain’s activity and the…

John Stribling, Wellington FINALISTS Mitch McConnell: “I would have voted for impeachment but my hands were tied.” – John Oliver, Auckland McConnell: “And I want you all to pick up your golf clubs and march to Mar-a-Lago and demand a membership and I will be right behind you!” – Dianna Rule, Dunedin McConnell: “Sure I’m 79, but so is Bob Dylan and it’s all right for him to be blowin’ in the wind!” – Peter Davidson, Christchurch McConnell: “This is the length the GOP will go to in order to restore democracy.” – Alan Hough, Bethlehem Caption: Mitch slow-clapping for the return of democracy to America. – Simone Stansfield, Wellington McConnell: “Trump’s nose, even in repose, exponentially grows.” – Conal Atkins, Nelson McConnell: “Do I believe Don? It’s a stretch!” – John…

“The publication of what governments call a ‘roadmap’ to the Covid recovery is the clincher that it is mostly the preserve of the middle-aged. No one under 30 knows what a roadmap is!” – BBC’s Now Show “If the Government used a satnav, it would constantly be saying, ‘Make a U-turn where possible.’” – Ibid “Mr Potato Head is no longer a mister. And not, as I originally assumed, because he had finally finished his PhD.” – Stephen Colbert “You can tell that they’re Trump’s real tax returns because under ‘total loss’, he still didn’t declare the election.” – Jimmy Kimmel “The crazy thing is that the part about Trump paying no taxes on millions of dollars – that isn’t what he might get busted for. That was probably legal. He could claim huge…