Developed over the past six months in response to requests from kaiako and librarians for classroom-ready resources, the Kete supports the development of a culture of reading for pleasure in both classes and in the wider school.

The Reading Resource Kete updates and builds on some of Read NZ Te Pou Muramura’s previous offerings, such as the Reading Stories from Aotearoa NZ catalogue developed with the New Zealand Association of English Teachers. It also offers brand new activities developed to prompt examination of students' reading identities and exploration of Aotearoa’s own literature.

“School staff tell us that they’d like to grow their students’ love for reading, but would love more resources to help them promote books, reading, writing, and creativity,” says Juliet Blyth, Read NZ Te Pou Muramura CEO. 

"Kaiako and librarians are doing amazing mahi, and we wanted to support them with ways into talking about reading and books: small starters that will pique students’ curiosity and help reading seem more accessible."

The Kete is particularly timely given last year’s inclusion of reading for pleasure in the New Zealand Curriculum Te Mātaiaho, which acknowledges the significance of reading for pleasure for academic outcomes, personal growth, and lifelong learning habits.

Some of the Kete’s resources are offered in different versions for primary or intermediate/high schools, while others are for use across the board. Some are activity-based, others are informative, and others are designed to help promote reading within the school/kura.

“This is just the first iteration of the Kete, which we hope to grow over time as our resourcing allows,” explains Juliet.

“There are a few amazing organisations producing resources in this space; we know from teachers and librarians that they will use as much material as we can collectively make available to them.”

“We are very grateful to One Foundation for the generous grant funding that allowed us to bring the Reading Resource Kete to life.”

Member schools of Read NZ Te Pou Muramura can access the Reading Resource Kete at read-nz.org/member-resources

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About Read NZ Te Pou Muramura

Established in 1972, Read NZ Te Pou Muramura (formerly the New Zealand Book Council) has been growing generations of readers in Aotearoa for over 50 years.

We believe in the transformative power of reading for pleasure and know that reading has the ability to improve social, cultural and economic outcomes for all of us. We work to ensure that communities across Aotearoa participate in and experience reading, and to champion stories from and about Aotearoa New Zealand.

Our organisation delivers programmes that celebrate reading in schools and communities nationwide, including our flagship Writers in Schools programme, which sees around 40,000 students per year inspired to read and write by a visiting author.

read-nz.org