Reading for Pleasure: More Important than Ever

Join us for this free public talk held to celebrate NZ Children's Book Week and the power of reading. A growing body of research shows that reading for enjoyment is more important for children's educational success than their parents' socio-economic status. Yet reading for pleasure in Aotearoa NZ is declining amongst young people.

The consequences of this decline are profound - for individuals, communities and our country's cultural and socio-economic prospects. The current Te Awhi Rito NZ Reading Ambassador Kate De Goldi will talk about these consequences, about reading's immense pleasures and benefits in a digital age and the ways we can contribute to building a nation of readers. Bio Kate De Goldi is a novelist, writing teacher, children’s literature commentator and publisher. She reviews books of all kinds on RNZ’s Saturday programme and regularly interviews writers at festivals around the country. In 2025 Kate was appointed the National Library’s Te Awhi Rito NZ Reading Ambassador.

Sunday, 16 August | 2-3pm
Fourth Floor | City Library