Herald Now: Dr James Kierstead on university grade inflation
Dr James Kierstead
26 August, 2025
Dr James Kierstead talked to Ryan Bridge on Herald Now about grade inflation at New Zealand universities, revealing that A grades have increased by 13 percentage points since 2006, with pass rates now above 90% at most institutions.
Dr Kierstead argued this isn't due to students getting smarter but rather an "ethic of kindness" where academics give more accommodations, particularly highlighted during COVID when 49% of University of Auckland grades were A-range. Watch below.
Read Dr Kierstead's report "Amazing Grades: Grade Inflation at New Zealand Universitites" here.