ABSTRACT
Gifted and talented educational policy in New Zealand has gone through five phases. Before 1997, there was very little government attention on gifted and talented learners and their educational needs. From 2002 to 2009 there was a period of action by government with respect to the new policy that saw funding for innovation, teacher professional development (PD), programme research, ministry support, advisory assistance, and an Education Review Office (ERO) review of gifted and talented education in schools. The New Zealand Marine Studies Centre (NZMSC) has a long history in delivering science learning experiences for all ages, including the general public. An important element of the NZMSC's programmes is feedback from students, parents, and teachers. The programmes not only helped students make sense of marine world, but also helped them make sense of their own world. As recent government policy focuses on Māori achievement, NZMSC created the Te Rauawa o te Pahī programme to address the needs for Māori gifted learners.
