By Alexander Gillespie* of
Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
Standardised testing and regular progress assessment became key features of the education system this year, so why not apply those same principles to New Zealand as a whole?
There's an important difference here, of course. This exercise is about prompting discussion and debate, and should be read with a degree of caution. The metrics tell us only so much - but it's still possible to trace the nation's ups and downs.
As one year ends and other beckons, it might also be time to make some collective new year's resolutions based on the various trends outlined here.
Near the top of the class
Civil liberty: The top mark is from Freedom House which underlined New Zealand's consistent near-perfect score of 99 out of 100 for political and civil liberties - second equal with Norway, just behind Finland.
Security: In the Global Peace Ind
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