New Zealand Listener Issue 42 2018

Decisions have consequences. If the Government thinks it’s keeping a fiscal problem at bay by refusing to move closer to meeting teachers’ pay demands, it will have a much worse problem before this year is out: more classrooms without teachers. The teacher shortage is now so acute, some principals predict they’ll soon have to park students in assembly halls for some periods. Whole subjects are already going untaught in some schools because of a growing international shortage of qualified teachers in key subjects. This will be catastrophic for the “smart economy”. More immediately, it will feed what the Ministry of Education now acknowledges is an urgent, intractable problem: truancy. Already, an alarming 4.5% of school children miss so much school their future options and well-being are severely restricted. The teacher shortage will not…

FIND US ONLINE VISIT US ONLINE FOR EXTRA CONTENT AND DAILY UPDATES • noted.co.nz/the-listener • twitter.com/nzlistener • facebook.com/nzlistener It takes courage for the media to investigate religious issues (“At the end of faith”, October 6). Likewise, it takes bravery for adherents to confront the trauma of leaving Islam. Their punishment for apostasy may include death, family harassment and social ostracism. The power of disciplined introspection (Why am I reciting something I don’t understand?) and critical reasoning is evident among ex-Muslims who reject dogma. David Whitehead (Hamilton) Fundamentalism in any of its many forms should not be confused with decent religion or living faith. A Muslim hafiz who could recite the Koran from memory, presumably in Arabic, while understanding none of it, is a case in point. It is paralleled by Christians who turn the Bible into a literally infallible holy…

WINNING CAPTION Libby Tate, Lower Hutt FINALISTS Woman on right: “A group of silver foxes is called a ‘skulk’.” – Rex McGregor, Auckland Bill Clinton: “Check behind me – is that #metoo looking for utu?” – Mike Lynch, Upper Hutt Woman on right: “History’s not the only place Bill left a mark.” – Kath Jones, Waikanae Alec Baldwin: “Trump’s a disgrace!” Clinton: “Hold my cigar.” – Elise Graham, Whanganui Baldwin: “I get the laughs at home, Donald gets them at the UN.” – Kath Jones Woman on right: “Which one is the ventriloquist?” – Jim Primrose, Hamilton Caption Competition {caption@listener.co.nz} TO ENTER Send your captions for the photo above to caption@listener.co.nz, with “Caption Competition No 302” in the subject line. Alternatively, entries can be posted to “Caption Competition No 302”, NZ Listener, Private Bag 92512, Wellesley St, Auckland 1141, or…

“Brexit! It’s not going very well, is it?” – British understatement from a lone Tory party conference protester “Somebody’s boring me. I think it’s me.” – Dylan Thomas, quoted in the Financial Times In his address, Trump discussed the greatest threats to the peace and stability of the world. So, like most of his speeches, it was all about himself.” – US comedian James Corden “Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn’t.” – Erica Jong, quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle “When you are courting a nice girl, an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder, a second seems like an hour. That’s relativity.” – Albert Einstein “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”…

More school principals show signs of tress NZ Herald, 14/8/18 “The stages are similar to other years but you’ve got to be weary and watch out for things.” Southland Times, 13/8/18 Air New Zealand continues to report substantial increases in the number of passengers it carries … The company yesterday released its August operating statistics which showed it had carried 1.3 billion passengers in the month … Otago Daily Times, 19/9/18 “Lambing will be finished and it’s just before most dairy farmers start mating, so it’s a great time to get off farm for a night and recharge the batteries.” Stratford Press, 19/9/18 The association’s survey of members, which is yet to be released, indicates tens of thousands of rentals won’t not be insulated by the deadline. Waikato Times, 30/7/18 LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND: Entries must describe New Zealand events.…

1. Which is the world’s driest continent? ❑ North America ❑ Australia ❑ Africa ❑ Antarctica 2. Which of these refers to one’s ability to solve new problems and identify patterns? ❑ Crystallised intelligence ❑ Fluid intelligence 3. Which of these periods in Ancient Roman history was earliest? ❑ Roman Empire ❑ Roman Republic ❑ Roman Kingdom 4. In what context would a “flash crash” occur? ❑ Electrical storm ❑ Sharemarket ❑ Exotic car race ❑ Rocket launch 5. Who had a koala chlamydia treatment clinic named after them this year? ❑ John Oliver ❑ Cate Blanchett ❑ Donald Trump ❑ Pauline Hanson 6. In theatrical superstition, which of these is considered bad luck onstage? ❑ Whistle ❑ Burp ❑ Hiccup ❑ Whisper 7. Which of these is not a title in the Tintin comic book series? ❑ Flight 714 to Sydney ❑ The Bird with the Crystal Plumage ❑ King Ottokar’s Sceptre ❑ The Crab with the Golden Claws 8. Which…