New Zealand Mathematical Enrichment Trust
The New Zealand Mathematical Enrichment Trust received funding from the Talent Development Initiatives funding pool to support extensions to their existing Mathematics Olympiad programme. This programme is targeted at the differing needs of students at different stages of their mathematical talent, with a global aim of targeting gifted mathematical students of all ages, gender, and ethnicity as well as raising the level of mathematics knowledge in teachers.
The programme works to actively extend students' knowledge, skills, and understanding of the discipline and to develop open-mindedness, insightfulness, and confidence in their abilities. Through contact with like-minded peers (locally, nationally, and internationally) students experience intellectual stimulation on a level not available to them at school. This story, written by a student from the New Zealand team who won a bronze medal in the 2004 International Mathematical Olympiad, 6–18 July 2004, Athens, Greece, demonstrates the outcomes of this extensive programme.
Read stories by:
Heather Macbeth, student at Burnside High School
Brenda Bicknell, mentor for NZ Mathematical Olympiad programme