Dr James Kierstead is a Research Fellow at The New Zealand Initiative focusing on higher education policy, including academic freedom.

James holds a BA in Classics from Oxford, an MA in Ancient History from the University of London, an MA in Political Science from Stanford and a PhD in Classics from Stanford.

He is also the co-host, along with Michael Johnston, of Free Kiwis!, a podcast dedicated to discussing free speech in a New Zealand context. 

In his recent report, Amazing Grades, Kierstead shows that Grade Inflation at New Zealand Universities is a problem.  

Between 2006 and 2024, the percentage of A grades (A+, A, A-) grew by 13 percentage points, from 22% of all grades to 35%. A grades spiked during COVID, with almost half (49%) of grades awarded at the University of Auckland in 2020 in the A range.  

Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting individuals, authors, business people, politicians and anyone else actually willing to talk to him.

For more interviews visit: https://www.differentmatters.co.nz/

Dr James Kierstead is a Research Fellow at The New Zealand Initiative focusing on higher education policy, including academic freedom.
James holds a BA in Classics from Oxford, an MA in Ancient History from the University of London, an MA in Political Science from Stanford and a PhD in Classics from Stanford.
He is also the co-host, along with Michael Johnston, of Free Kiwis!, a podcast dedicated to discussing free speech in a New Zealand context.&nbsp;
In his recent report, Amazing Grades, Kierstead shows that Grade Inflation at New Zealand Universities is a problem. &nbsp;
Between 2006 and 2024, the percentage of A grades (A+, A, A-) grew by 13 percentage points, from 22% of all grades to 35%. A grades spiked during COVID, with almost half (49%) of grades awarded at the University of Auckland in 2020 in the A range. &nbsp;
Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting individuals, authors, business people, politicians and anyone else actually willing to talk to him.
For more interviews visit: https://www.differentmatters.co.nz/

I have been incredibly fortunate, and also incredibly reckless, over my nearly six decades. 




For reasons that are unclear to me a number of wonderful New Zealander’s have been willing to give up an hour of their time to talk to me. 

I have been incredibly fortunate, and also incredibly reckless, over my nearly six decades.&nbsp; For reasons that are unclear to me a number of wonderful New Zealander’s have been willing to give up an hour of their time to talk to me.&nbsp;

Different Matters by Damien Grant

I have been incredibly fortunate, and also incredibly reckless, over my nearly six decades. 

For reasons that are unclear to me a number of wonderful New Zealander’s have been willing to give up an hour of their time to talk to me. 

I have been incredibly fortunate, and also incredibly reckless, over my nearly six decades.&nbsp;
For reasons that are unclear to me a number of wonderful New Zealander&rsquo;s have been willing to give up an hour of their time to talk to me.&nbsp;

Dr James Kierstead on Different Matters, Grade Inflation and its links

David Cohen is a Wellington writer and the author of eight books. In 2025 he released his political biography, Jacinda: The Untold Stories, co-authored by Rebecca Keillor, in November 2025.

After Jacinda turned down Cohen's request to interview her for the book, he decided to create a platform for the voices that haven't been heard. Drawing on more than 100 interviews and extensive research, David and co-author, Rebecca Keillor track the rise, fall and re-emergence of former NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern onto the global stage.

Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting individuals, authors, business people, politicians and anyone else actually willing to talk to him. For more interviews visit: https://www.differentmatters.co.nz/

David Cohen is a Wellington writer and the author of eight books. In 2025 he released his political biography, Jacinda: The Untold Stories, co-authored by Rebecca Keillor, in November 2025.
After Jacinda turned down Cohen's request to interview her for the book, he decided to create a platform for the voices that haven't been heard. Drawing on more than 100 interviews and extensive research, David and co-author, Rebecca Keillor track the rise, fall and re-emergence of former NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern onto the global stage.
Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting individuals, authors, business people, politicians and anyone else actually willing to talk to him. For more interviews visit: https://www.differentmatters.co.nz/

David Cohen on Different Matters, Jacinda and The Untold Stories

Stephen Rowe is full-stack digital strategist by profession, innovator by passion, and a storyteller at heart.

With over a decade of experience under his belt, he has mastered the art of bridging and blending cutting-edge technology with human connection. 

After graduating in 2015, he left Montana to join Charlie Kirk’s newly founded organization, Turning Point USA, at its headquarters in the Chicago area. 

Within a month, he was promoted to Editor-in-Chief of Hypeline News, a new digital platform that served as the early foundation of Turning Point USA’s influencer program. 

In just one year, he scaled the site from startup to over 12.8 million page views and millions more across social media. By September 2016, the newsroom had over 200 contributors nationwide.

Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting individuals, authors, business people, politicians and anyone else actually willing to talk to him.

*correction - Stephen Rowe hosted in New Zealand by the The Taxpayers' Union, not the Free Speech Union as stated in the interview. 

For more interviews visit: https://www.differentmatters.co.nz/

Stephen Rowe is full-stack digital strategist by profession, innovator by passion, and a storyteller at heart.
With over a decade of experience under his belt, he has mastered the art of bridging and blending cutting-edge technology with human connection.&nbsp;
After graduating in 2015, he left Montana to join Charlie Kirk&rsquo;s newly founded organization, Turning Point USA, at its headquarters in the Chicago area.&nbsp;
Within a month, he was promoted to Editor-in-Chief of Hypeline News, a new digital platform that served as the early foundation of Turning Point USA&rsquo;s influencer program.&nbsp;
In just one year, he scaled the site from startup to over 12.8 million page views and millions more across social media. By September 2016, the newsroom had over 200 contributors nationwide.
Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting individuals, authors, business people, politicians and anyone else actually willing to talk to him.
*correction - Stephen Rowe hosted in New Zealand by the The Taxpayers' Union, not the Free Speech Union as stated in the interview.&nbsp;
For more interviews visit: https://www.differentmatters.co.nz/

Stephen Rowe on Different Matters, liberterianism, AI in politics and AI in Porn

Helen Janeith Joyce is an Irish journalist and gender critical activist. She studied as a mathematician and worked in academia before becoming a journalist.

Joyce began working for The Economist as education correspondent for its Britain section in 2005 and has since held several senior positions, including finance editor and international editor. She published her book Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality in 2021.

In April 2022, Joyce took a leave of absence from The Economist to become the director of advocacy for Sex Matters. She wrote an opinion piece for the Guardian arguing that gender identity change efforts should not be included in a bill banning conversion therapy.

Recently Joyce visited New Zealand as a speaker invited by New Zealand Free Speech Union and The New Zealand Women's Rights Party.

Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting individuals, authors, business people, politicians and anyone else actually willing to talk to him.

For more interviews visit: https://www.differentmatters.co.nz/

Helen Janeith Joyce is an Irish journalist and gender critical activist. She studied as a mathematician and worked in academia before becoming a journalist.
Joyce began working for The Economist as education correspondent for its Britain section in 2005 and has since held several senior positions, including finance editor and international editor. She published her book Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality in 2021.
In April 2022, Joyce took a leave of absence from The Economist to become the director of advocacy for Sex Matters. She wrote an opinion piece for the Guardian arguing that gender identity change efforts should not be included in a bill banning conversion therapy.
Recently Joyce visited New Zealand as a speaker invited by New Zealand Free Speech Union and The New Zealand Women's Rights Party.
Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting individuals, authors, business people, politicians and anyone else actually willing to talk to him.
For more interviews visit: https://www.differentmatters.co.nz/

Dr James Kierstead on Different Matters, Grade Inflation and its links

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