This article examines the current state of drama in education in New Zealand. It takes as a basis the principles of the UNESCO Road Map, but also recognises that education is a complex human agency that does not readily follow map directions. It acknowledges the factors that cause frustration for drama teachers, and tracks the development of a strong role in national curriculum. It examines the complex relationship between the agency of teachers and the external constraints that impact upon them. Finally it explores the opportunities offered by having drama in the curriculum, noting particularly how the apparent constraints created by being an examinable subject can be transformed to serve genuine educational goals.