The aim of Read NZ Te Pou Muramura is for all adults and children in Aotearoa to read for pleasure. They argue that encouraging reading, especially for pleasure, is critical for the nation’s prosperity and wellbeing. Their research reveals that students who read for pleasure achieve at a higher level across all subjects than those who do not.
Read NZ Te Pou Muramura delivers programmes in schools and communities designed to advocate for the importance of reading. They deliver campaigns targeted to reluctant or non-readers to encourage reading. They conduct research on reading habits and barriers. Their Writers in Schools programme encourages students to read and write. This programme involves nearly 40,000 children each year at 400 events nationwide and reaches out to children in rural and low-decile areas, creating unique opportunities for them to meet Aotearoa's authors and illustrators.
Their blog offers reading lists, tips, ideas and resources for how to bring more books into your life.
They deliver an annual Lecture, which provides an opportunity for one of the country’s leading writers to discuss an aspect of literature close to their heart. Follow the link to find out more about previous year’s speakers, including last year’s Lecture by the Ōtaki playwright Renée (Ngāti Kahungunu). This year’s lecture will take place at the National Library in Wellington on November 10 and will be live-streamed on Read NZ Te Pou Muramura’s Facebook page. Check out the details of this year’s event here.
Te Pou Muramura’s travelling author programme Words on Wheels enables readers in all corners of the country to meet Aotearoa writers. Read NZ’s True Stories Told Live storytelling events bring writers, artists, musicians and other creatives to Aotearoa audiences around the country.