Q + A – 5 August 2012

This week on Q+A, charter schools: a bold new innovation to save failing pupils or an experiment putting our kids’ achievement at risk?

The government this week laid out the framework for what it’s now calling Partnership Schools. While the education ministers won’t front on the controversial new policy, Political Editor Corin Dann will debate the pros and cons with the scheme’s architect, ACT party president Catherine Isaac and staunch critic, NZEI President Ian Leckie. (1+2 live in Akld)

Then, ‘The Landgrabbers: The new fight over who owns the earth’ is a new book by science writer Fred Pearce. While Kiwis fret about the Crafar Farms sale, the super-rich are gobbling up vast tracts of land all over the globe. Should we be worried about foreign ownership on a grand scale? Or is it progress? And what does it mean for New Zealand land-owners? Pearce speaks to Jessica Mutch. (1+1 pre-rec at 7.20am)

And we’ll debate the Waitangi Tribunal’s interim ruling on water rights and exclusively reveal details from this weekend’s One News-Colmar Brunton poll with this week’s panel: Dr Raymond Miller, former Labour minister and Waipareira Trust CEO John Tamihere and UNITE union leader and columnist Matt McCarten.

Plus, a surprise guest as a wee bonus. All on Q+A.

Broadcast on TV 1 Sunday at 9 am