Advocating for the joy and benefits of reading
This year has seen Kate De Goldi speak about the joy and benefits of reading at workshops, events and conferences online and up and down the motu.
Image credit: Akaroa, 2024 by Hagai Agmon-Snir. Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Image cropped.
Events, conferences and workshops
Here's a snapshot.
February
National Library webinar: Kate in conversation
On 26 February, Kate joined National Library facilitator Bridget Schaumann for a webinar where they discussed reading for pleasure. The lively discussion included ideas for engaging young readers with fabulous books, and the importance of reading aloud for pleasure in the classroom and the librarians’ role in building school reading culture.
Watch the recording of Let's talk about the joy of reading with Kate De Goldi (Niche Academy video, 1:00:38).
March
Readers and Writers Akaroa (RAWA)
From 6 to 8 March, Kate chaired a session with Damien Wilkins and a panel on crime fiction with Liam McIlvanney and Vanda Symon, and gave the closing address: ‘Readers and writers in Aotearoa — are we in good heart?’
Auckland Literacy Association AGM
Kate presented to an audience of educators at the Auckland Literacy Association (ALA) AGM. As well as highlighting the importance of reading for pleasure to all literacies, Kate spoke about the importance of teachers reading aloud, the ‘steady, daily modelling of reading’, and how sharing their own enthusiasm about reading and books helps inspire young readers.
In her report to ALA on the event, ALA exec Margaret Carter wrote:
‘Kate De Goldi delivered a thought-provoking and deeply engaging talk, weaving together the beauty, complexity and urgency of reading in today’s world … she stressed the urgency of this work, noting that for some young people, school is the only place they encounter books and reading.’
While in Tāmaki Makarau, Kate joined some National Library facilitators for a morning event at Alfriston College, which was attended by school staff from South Auckland and beyond. The theme was creating a Book Buzz, and facilitators presented sessions on creating a reading community and building a book buzz.
As guest speaker, Kate emphasised the importance of school staff reading aloud to students of all ages just for pleasure every day and shared a number of books with a focus on creative non-fiction.
Feedback from participants about what they learned and/or will use included:
‘Awesome day. Loved all the presenters from the National Library. Kate De Goldi — learnt about creative nonfiction.’
‘The use of creative nonfiction and picture books for teenagers. So good. Thank you.’
‘Inspiration and motivation from Kate De Goldi. Thank you, it was a great session.’
April
Kate emceed a day-long poetry event at Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui | Wellington Public Library, as part of the library’s rolling celebrations of the reopening.
Of this event, Kate said:
‘This was a good opportunity to convey to both a writer and general public audience (particularly the parents gathered for the young poets’ reading) the reading message and the fundamental place of poetry in our shared oral, writing, and reading cultures.’
Also in April, Kate chaired a session for WORD Christchurch with Irish writer Niall Williams to a large audience at Tūranga.
May
May saw Kate in Wellington for a workshop for the Wellington Literacy Association and in the Hawke’s Bay for the Storylines tour.
Read more about Storylines National Story Tours.
Media mentions
Growing readers, growing stories — Education Gazette article from April 2026 about Te Awhi Rito.
Blog
Read Kate’s latest blog posts: