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The purpose of this paper is to explore the theme of centre and periphery in education through a study of the views and actions of the Reverend Samuel Marsden, New South Wales colonial chaplain, in relation to the education of Aboriginal people and Māori.

Taking a broad view of education, the author explores the contrasting models of education applied to Māori and Aboriginal youths, which exposed indigenous peoples to aspects of European life and emphasised a particular place in a developing racial hierarchy in the region.

The paper argues that Marsden was key to a process whereby Māori were brought into British imperial activity while Aboriginal people were relegated to the periphery of colonial interests in indigenous peoples.

By considering these educational “experiments” applied to indigenous peoples in the region together, this paper explores the role of imperial and colonial contexts, and developing discourses of race, on indigenous education.