Category Archives: Education

In search of a rational debate about water

[This article was originally published by Ravensdown Fertiliser Co-operative in the Autumn 2018 issue of Ground Effect. ]  In recent years, the debates about water rights and water pollution in New Zealand have become increasingly torrid. Most New Zealanders have … Continue reading

Posted in Dairy, Education, Science ethics and communication, Water | 4 Comments

Partnering with China

This last week I have been in Beijing at the NZ –China Council Forum. Led by Minister Steven Joyce and co-chaired by Sir Don McKinnon, it has been all about building partnerships. There were about fifty New Zealanders there, including … Continue reading

Posted in Agribusiness, China, Education | 2 Comments

Lincoln and Canterbury: is a merger the solution?

[This post was first published in the Fairfax NZ Sunday Star Times on 22 June 2014] Last week I wrote how Lincoln University is facing hard times, and is shedding lecturing staff in core areas of land-based education. I suggested … Continue reading

Posted in Agribusiness, Education, The Fairfax SST Articles | 7 Comments

Lincoln University drives into the rough

[This post was first published in the Fairfax NZ Sunday Star Times on 15 June 2014] Lincoln University is New Zealand’s land-based university, with a special focus on agriculture and related industries. In recent years, the University has been facing … Continue reading

Posted in Agribusiness, Education, The Fairfax SST Articles | 3 Comments

Education for Agribusiness

[This post was first published in the NZ Sunday Star Times on 2 March 2014 under the title “Agribusiness calls for a holistic approach”.] Last week I wrote about how agribusiness was fundamentally different to other forms of business. I … Continue reading

Posted in Agribusiness, Education, The Fairfax SST Articles, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Socio-economic conditions determine educational under-achievement

This post is a joint contribution by Keith and Annette Woodford. Annette is a specialist teacher in Reading Recovery. The big message from the recently released results of national education standards is that low socio-economic conditions and educational under-achievement go hand … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Uncategorized | 11 Comments

Glimpses of Kansas

 Coming from New Zealand, it has been a fascinating experience to spend a week in Kansas, in America’s Midwest.  Kansas is a big state geographically, right in the centre of the USA, but has only 2.5 million people. The economy … Continue reading

Posted in Agribusiness, Education, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Telford and Lincoln

Currently there is a proposal before the Minister of Tertiary Education, Steven Joyce, that Lincoln University and Telford Polytechnic should amalgamate. The governing councils of both institutions are in favour. In my own opinion, the issues have not been thought … Continue reading

Posted in Education | 1 Comment

Lincoln students optimistic about sheep and beef

Lincoln University Senior Lecturer in Agribusiness, Nic Lees, recently conducted an online poll of his final year undergraduate class in agribusiness strategic management. He asked what they thought of a recent media statement from Federated Farmers that ‘sheep and beef … Continue reading

Posted in Agribusiness, Education, Meat Industry | Leave a comment