Feb 25 2025 40 mins 2
Dr. Michael Harvey is the Director of Innovative Learning at Marlborough Boys’ College in Blenheim, New Zealand. Originally from Gisborne, Michael’s career spans the chemical industry, intellectual property, and education. A passionate advocate for EdTech, curiosity, and integrating indigenous knowledge to find novel solutions, Michael is committed to making education more equitable, engaging, and future-ready and is a strong advocate for public education.
Ka whangaia, ka tupu, ka puawai – That which is nurtured blossoms and grows.
Your WHY: Curiosity, Connection, and Service
At the heart of everything I do is curiosity. My why is about sparking that same curiosity in others—helping students and teachers see the world not just as it is, but as it could be. I’m also driven by manaakitanga, which in Māori terms is all about looking after people. Education is about service: serving communities, supporting others to thrive, and building a future we can all be proud of through public education. I also advocate for education by serving the Post Primary Teachers Association here in New Zealand.
Whether it’s helping a student figure out why rugby balls curve the way they do (spoiler: it’s physics!) or supporting a teacher to embrace technology without having a meltdown, my goal is to create spaces where people can grow and learn.
Be curious, not judgemental.
~Ted Lasso
From Gisborne to the World (and Back Again)
I was born and raised in Gisborne, the first city in the world to embrace the new day. Growing up in this corner of paradise taught me the value of community and the joy of a good question. I was the kid always asking “Why?”—to the point where my teachers probably needed a lie-down after class.
Gisborne, the first city in the world to embrace the new day
That curiosity carried me through a PhD in Chemistry, where I fell in love with the idea that tiny particles could explain massive phenomena. From there, I hopped across to the UK, working in the chemical industry before returning home to Aotearoa, where I decided to channel my inner Einstein (minus the hair) as a patent examiner for the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment. Fun fact: Einstein was also a patent examiner, so I’d like to think we’re kindred spirits.
Eventually, I realized my true passion was sharing the wonder of science with others, so I swapped patents for classrooms and became a teacher. Teaching has taken me from New Zealand to China and Malaysia, and then back to New Zealand, which has introduced me to diverse ideas and the importance of different perspectives.
Innovative Learning at Marlborough Boys’ College
I am presently based at Marlborough Boys’ College in Blenheim, the wine capital of New Zealand and gateway to Te Waipounamu or the South Island. My job is to shake things up—in a good way. My role is all about helping teachers and students rethink how we learn. It’s not just about slapping a shiny bit of tech on top of a textbook—it’s about creating real, meaningful change.
We’ve done some pretty cool things, from using Minecraft to explore historical events to 3D-printing models of sustainable homes.
And while the tech is exciting, the real magic happens
when students start thinking critically,
