There are a number of organisations and events dedicated to creating and celebrating readers and children’s literature in New Zealand and overseas.

flickr image by Carlos Porto

Contents

Organisations
Events celebrating reading and children’s literature
Writing workshops for children
Links to the wider reading community overseas

Organisations

New Zealand Book Council aims to inspire New Zealanders to read more and promotes reading in general. Runs the Writers in Schools and Speed Date an Author. Publishes The School Library especially for school members. f

New Zealand Reading Association (Incorporated)

Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust of New Zealand “aims to promote public awareness of the importance of reading and literature for all children.”

The Wellington Children’s Book Association- supports New Zealand writers and illustrators of children’s and young adult books, brings overseas writers to Wellington, hosts literary events in the Wellington area.

Te Tai Tamariki. Aotearoa New Zealand Children’s Literature Charitable Trust - Based in Christchurch Te Tai Tamariki’s aim is to preserve and promote New Zealand children’s literature.

Duffy Books in Homes- Alan Duff’s Books in Homes is a charitable organisation, which provides free books to children along with resources for teachers and families to help support children become readers.

Christchurch City Libraries provides an overview  ofreading communities here and overseas.

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Events celebrating reading and children’s literature

The following events often are accompanied and supported by national and local activities held in communities schools and libraries. See each respective website for more details.
As well visit the  New Zealand Book Council for a comprehensive listing of all New Zealand literary festivals.

Auckland Writers and Readers festival - Every year the Auckland Writers & Readers Festival brings together acclaimed writers and thousands of readers and thinkers.

Kids Lit Quiz - The Kids’ Lit Quiz is annual literature competition for children aged 10 to 13. It puts readers onto the stage and lets them compete for prizes.

LIANZA Children’s Book Awards - Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa fund these award to encourage and promote the work of New Zealand children’s authors.

Library week - a week-long celebration of libraries and librarianship in New Zealand that takes place in libraries all across the country.

National Poetry Day - “National Poetry Day is a celebration of poetry in New Zealand. It’s a day which gives communities all over New Zealand an opportunity to enjoy the written word out loud.”

New Zealand Book Month - “NZ Book Month is a non-profit initiative that has the whole book industry behind it, from writers and publishers to bookshops and libraries. Quite simply, the idea is to get more of us reading New Zealand books.”

New Zealand International Arts Festival: Writers and Readers week - The New Zealand International Arts Festival is a biennial multi-arts festival held in Wellington. It includes a New Zealand Post Writers and Readers week that plays host to renowned New Zealand and overseas authors.

New Zealand Post Book Awards - Each year the New Zealand Post Book Awards seeks to identify the best adult books written by New Zealanders in four categories: Poetry, Fiction, Illustrated Non-fiction and General Non-fiction.

New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards - Established in 1997, New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards for Children and Young Adults recognises the best books for children and teenagers published annually in New Zealand.

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Writing workshops and awards for children

New Zealand Society of Authors - The New Zealand Society of Authors has a extensive list of  private and institutional courses on the practice of writing for children.

Jack Lasenby Award - Wellington Children’s Book Association invites students from the Wellington region in years 7 and 8 to submit a story for the Jack Lasenby Award, which is a biennial event.

Katherine Mansfield Memorial Awards -annual short story competition open to all senior secondary student. Features a young writers Young Writers’ category.

School for Young Writers - The Christchurch based School for Young Writers runs weekly two day and distance workshops for students interested in creative writing. The school also publishes twice a year Write On which contains a selection of some of the best writing by New Zealanders 8 – 18. Also offers Re-draft - an annual competition for teenage writers.

National Schools Poetry Awards - Poetry Awards for Years 11-13 New Zealand students.

New Zealand Poetry Society aims to develop and support poetry and poets in New Zealand and has an annual international Poetry Competition.

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