About Te Awhi Rito
Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Reading Ambassador advocates for and champions the importance of reading for young New Zealanders and their families, whānau and communities. Kate De Goldi is the current Te Awhi Rito.
Kate De Goldi: Current Te Awhi Rito
Kate De Goldi is a writer, a dedicated reader, and a long-time advocate for the importance of reading at every stage of life. For 20 years, she commentated on children’s books on Radio New Zealand (RNZ) with Kim Hill. Currently, Kate speaks about books for all ages on RNZ’s Saturday programme.
Kate is a frequent speaker on reading and writing at educational, library and literacy conferences. She regularly chairs conversations with writers at festivals in New Zealand and Australia.
Through ReadNZ, Kate teaches creative writing in schools throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. She has devised and taught several children’s literature writing courses at both Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University.
With Susan Paris, Kate is co-publisher of the children’s imprint, Annual Ink. Their imprint has produced 3 volumes of Annual — reading miscellanies with new work for young people by contemporary New Zealand writers and artists.
Kate’s fiction has won awards in New Zealand and internationally. She was named an Arts Foundation Laureate in 2001.
About the role
As a national reading role model, Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Reading Ambassador will build visibility and awareness of reading across all sectors in Aotearoa New Zealand, helping to create a nation of readers.
Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador aims to:
Inspire, empower and mobilise powerful, positive reading experiences for children, young people, whānau, and communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Deliver and support reading programmes and events, including those underway in the National Library and with other partnerships and organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Work with and make connections between the many organisations involved in reading, literacy, literature, and the wellbeing of young people and their whānau.
Build appreciation of, access to, and growth of stories and literature that reflect Aotearoa New Zealand. This includes helping increase the creation of and access to reading resources in te reo Māori and the diverse languages and cultures of Aotearoa.
Connect and work with the network of reading ambassadors and children’s laureates across the globe.
Te Awhi Rito is appointed for a 2-year term. The National Library provides ongoing coordination, support and funding for the role.
Te Awhi Rito partner group
The National Library of New Zealand established the Te Awhi Rito initiative with support from Te Puna Foundation. The library leads the Te Awhi Rito programme in collaboration with:
Read New Zealand Te Pou Muramura
Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa
Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust | Te Whare Waituhi Tamariki o Aotearoa.
The partner group provides ongoing advice and support to Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador and steers the development of the programme of activities.
Members
Elizabeth Jones, Chair of partner group, Director Literacy and Learning, National Library
Juliet Blyth, Chief Executive, ReadNZ
Malcolm Burgess, Lead Practice Adviser — Literature, Creative New Zealand
Carolyn Lagahetau, Editorial Director, Oratia Books
Jo Buchan, Senior Specialist Reading, National Library
From left to right: Malcolm Burgess, Christine Young (Storylines), Alan Dingley, Juliet Blyth, Ben Brown, Elizabeth Jones.
The name Te Awhi Rito
The name Te Awhi Rito comes from the harakeke or flax plant. The ‘rito’ is the young shoot at the centre of the plant. ‘Awhi rito’ are the strong, mature leaves that stand straight and tall to surround, protect and nurture the rito. Outside Te Awhi Rito are the ‘tūpuna’ or older leaves that bend towards the ground. These support the entire harakeke bush and eventually become part of the fertile ground beneath.
The harakeke is sometimes used as a metaphor for generations in a family. Te Awhi Rito are parents, connecting the young people or rito in the centre of the bush to their grandparents or tūpuna.
Te Awhi Rito is not a direct translation for Reading Ambassador but represents this role in nurturing and inspiring the rito — the young and new readers. The tūpuna represent the many organisations, authors, teachers, libraries and other advocates for reading in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Over time, each Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador will add their mana and mahi to strengthen the whole harakeke or He Pā Rito.
Read more about Te Awhi Rito role
Find out more on the National Library website
Former Te Awhi Rito
Each Te Awhi Rito brings their own strengths, skills and experience to the role, building on the work of former Te Awhi Rito.
Contact
For media, event or general enquiries about Te Awhi Rito, contact: reading-ambassador@dia.govt.nz.