Kia ora, Talofa lava, Fakalofa lahi atu, Ni sa bula, Malo e lelei, Kia orana, Taloha ni.

We are delighted to inform you and your school community that the 2023 Awards for Gifted Learners will open on 1 September.

Gifted students can apply for these awards to support their learning and enable them to pursue their passion. Gifted learners in early learning up to school leaving age can apply for these awards, which can provide up to $2,500 to a student or up to $5,000 to a group of students. Applications close on 9 October.

Our communities in Aotearoa New Zealand are diverse and what is considered “gifted and talented” reflects this diversity. For example, Māori concepts of giftedness include collective and community qualities such as whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, kotahitanga and rangatiratanga, and are grounded in kaupapa Māori. Gifted Pasifika learners reflect the cultures they come from; they will very often have a deep knowledge of who they are in relation to others and the reciprocal obligations involved in this.

If you have a Gifted son please contact our Director of Gifted & Talented - Miss Wilson EHW@shirley.school.nz for your letter of recommendation to support your application.
She can also help walk you through the application process.

We also have two types of awards available for teachers:
The Awards for Teachers of Gifted Learners are for teachers currently working in early learning, primary or secondary schools in Aotearoa New Zealand. Funding of up to $2,500 can be awarded to an individual teacher or up to $6,000 to a group of teachers, to support them in enhancing their skills so they can better support gifted learners. Applications open on 2 October and close on 5 November.

Study awards are available to support teachers undertaking the Massey University Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching (Gifted Education). Applications are now open and close on 12 September.

We look forward to receiving applications from your learners and teachers. For
queries about any of these awards, please email gifted.enquiries@education.govt.nz.

Ngā mihi nui,
Gifted Learners Awards team