Michael is a Senior Fellow at The New Zealand Initiative. He leads the Initiative’s work on education. He is a cognitive psychologist with a background in literacy research, educational assessment and psychometrics.
Prior to his time at the Initiative, he was the Associate Dean (Academic) of the Faculty of Education at Victoria University of Wellington. Between 2005 and 2011, he worked at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), where he developed a new, more reliable, marking system for NCEA examinations. In 2024, Michael chaired a Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) for Education Minister Erica Stanford. The MAG advised on the development of a knowledge-rich curriculum for English and mathematics. Following that work, Michael is currently a member of the Curriculum Coherence group, which advises on the development of knowledge-rich curricula across all school subjects. Michael is also a member of a technical advisory group to NZQA on assessment for NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship.
In his time at The New Zealand Initiative, Michael has published reports on Modern Learning Environments, systems reform in education, teacher education, the use of AI in education, and pathways for industry training and apprenticeships.
Phone: 044990790
As voters consider their options for the forthcoming election, it is a good time to reflect on the democratic process. New Zealand is a representative democracy – voters elect politicians to legislate on their behalf. Read more
Dr. Michael Johnston appeared on Nine To Noon, hosted by Kathryn Ryan, to discuss the Initiative's new report on teacher education. You can also find the interview here. Read more
The most important component of any system of school education is its teachers. But, New Zealand’s teacher education programmes do not ensure that new teachers are well prepared for the classroom. Read more
Who Teaches The Teachers, The New Zealand Initiative's new report, discusses the current issues with teacher training in New Zealand. Join Dr. Oliver Hartwich and Dr. Michael Johnston for a discussion about the new report. Read more
Dr. Michael Johnston is joined by Adjunct Fellow Stephanie Martin and Dr. Kevin Knight, founder and owner of the New Zealand Graduate School of Education in Christchurch, for a discussion about the issues currently facing the training of our teachers. The New Zealand Initiative · EPS. Read more
Good teachers need to be many things. They must be experts in the knowledge they teach. Read more
It was a sunny morning in 2040. I got on my electric bike and rode through my Auckland neighbourhood. Read more
Join Dr. Michael Johnston, Dr. James Kierstead and their guest, Dr. Kendall Clements, for a discussion about the issues currently facing the teaching of science at secondary and tertiary level. The New Zealand Initiative · EPS. Read more
Join us for a thought-provoking conversation between Dr Michael Johnston and Dr Melissa Derby (Ngāti Ranginui), a seasoned expert in education and literacy. Dive into the nuances of literacy in New Zealand, from the ongoing 'Reading Wars' debate to the concept of multi-literacies. Read more
Join Dr. Oliver Hartwich and Dr. Michael Johnston for a discussion about the key points from The New Zealand Initiative's recent publication, Prescription for Prosperity. The report, which gives policy recommendations for the incoming government after the election, is the culmination of over a decade of research. Read more
One of the key themes that echoes through the 21 areas of public policy we cover in Prescription for Prosperity, is localism. We need to get central bureaucracy out of the way, so that local innovation can thrive. Read more
As the nation prepares to vote on 14 October, the sentiment across New Zealand is one of frustration and concern. Skyrocketing living costs, unaffordable housing, strained healthcare, and a growing educational gap are the voices of a country looking for change. Read more
In 1989, the Lange government implemented the Tomorrow’s Schools reforms. The old Department of Education was replaced by a new agency, the – initially – much leaner Ministry of Education. Schools became self-governing. Read more
The term etymology refers to the linguistic origin of a word. An etymological fallacy is committed when the meaning of a modern word is taken to be the same as that of an old word from which it derives. Read more
Dr Michael Johnston joined Michael Goldwaer on The Shape of Dialogue podcast to discuss his report Save our Schools. Read more