The ongoing fall in the literacy capability of New Zealand’s school students and school leavers is a national scandal.

New Zealand needs a fresh start for literacy education.

To learn about what several decades of scientific research can contribute to a more effective approach, the New Zealand Initiative held a one-day literacy workshop in Wellington on May 12, 2022.

We were privileged to be able to bring together some of our country’s leading experts in the field as well as Australian education policy practitioners.

This workshop connected these experts with policymakers and politicians. It will contribute to developing a pathway to urgently needed reform.

The speakers’ presentations are below (in order of appearance), including both audio recordings of their talks and presentation slides.

Professor James Chapman ,Massey University

• Zoom: The past and future of literacy education in New Zealand: What's gone wrong and how we can do better

Dr Jennifer Buckingham, Multilit Pty Ltd / Centre for Independent Studies

• Zoom: The political challenges of literacy reform: Lessons from Australia's success story

Dr Christine Braid, Massey University

• Audio: Best practice in literacy teaching: Insights from the chalkface
• Powerpoint

Dr Helen Walls, Cognition Education

• Audio: Beyond constructivism: Pedagogical methods for reducing educational inequality in writing
• Powerpoint

Olwyn Johnston, Tawa School

• Audio: Ambulance at the bottom of the cliff: Saving the casualties of reading recovery
• Powerpoint

Jan Johnstone, Southern Institute of Technology

• Audio: Striding ahead: A phonics-based approach to rescuing reading at secondary school
• Powerpoint

Helena McAlister, New Zealand Graduate School of Education

• Audio: Preparing teachers for success in literacy education
• Powerpoint

TVNZ 1 Breakfast Interview - Professor James Chapman and and Dr Jennifer Buckingham