Media release
13 June 2011

NCEA assessment scandal revealed
NCEA markers and moderators are being told to “fudge the figures” for the Minister of Education, a shocked insider reveals in the July issue of North & South.

The message to moderators was clear, says the veteran teacher and marker: fudge the figures or risk losing your jobs – and risk exposing massive flaws and unfairness in the way grades are awarded to students on their NCEA internal assessments.

Scaling, cheating and manipulating marks… writer Deborah Coddington uncovers another sorry chapter in New Zealand’s troubled NCEA examination and internal assessment system.

John Key – saviour or spinner?
Also in North & South: a frank, face-to-face conversation with John Key, the man behind “the mobile smile”, and an insightful analysis by political columnist Guyon Espiner of the “four things that make Key a successful politician – three of which will contribute to his downfall”

Confessions of a lawn bowls outlaw
In an exclusive interview, the bad boy of bowls Gary Lawson opens up to Donna Chisholm about bowls, booze and his broken marriage in the first in-depth story since he was cleared of assaulting a taxi driver.

In a no-holds-barred conversation, Lawson talks about the decision to leave his brain-damaged wife and why he’s finally ready to rebuild his troubled relationship with the sport’s governing body.

Who hurt Squirt?
Donna Chisholm also investigates the bizarre attack and near-blinding of Squirt the horse. Three months on from the incident that made headlines around the world, North & South’s editor-at-large investigates the strange sport of show hunting – and reveals a seedier side of the equestrian world.

The show must go on
When Robert Gilbert’s son Jaime was killed in Christchurch’s earthquake, the theatre director refused to let events overwhelm him. So Gilbert stepped into his son’s shoes in a remarkable tribute and act of resilience that typified the city’s battle back to normality.

North & South senior writer Mike White followed the inspirational father and teacher as he prepared for his most difficult role.

Dunedin heritage at risk
North & South visits Dunedin and asks – in light of the recent Christchurch earthquakes - if the southern city is serious about saving its distinctive heritage architecture.

It’s all in the July edition of North & South, on news-stands from Monday, June 13.

ENDS

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