Events, awards and school sessions
During September and October, Alan traversed the country, presenting at schools and events from Dargaville in Northland to Christchurch in the south. In this latest update, he reflects on his activities.
Alan Dingley at Te Kopuru School.
September events
What an amazing few months I have had! I have hit the ground running and have been accepting invitations to visit, speak, present, and engage in so many places, in so many ways.
September saw me on the organising committee for the SLANZA regional conference in Palmerston North, presenting a keynote, being part of a panel, AND as part of the evening's entertainment! I then transitioned to Hawkes Bay for the Drama NZ Whakamana conference held at Havelock North Intermediate. Going back to my old Intermediate to present classes as Te Awhi Rito was quite an amazing feeling. These educators are doing amazing work, in particular Peter O'Connor and his Te Rito Toi programme.
October activities
October rolled in, and I was invited to visit two wonderful schools in Dargaville, Selwyn Park, and Te Kopuru. They are partners, along with Dargaville Intermediate and Dargaville Public Library, in the Dargaville Pūtoi Rito Communities of Readers project. What engaged students they were, such intelligence and wisdom.
Note must be made of the stunning location of Te Kopuru School! Beautifully unique houses as you roll in, to be greeted with a beautiful, pristine school bathed in sunshine.
I capped off the visit up north at Stanhope School in Auckland, after a chance meeting with a teacher at Wardini Books in Napier. I have loved taking any opportunity to talk to tamariki and their exceptional educators.
No rest for the wicked though and last week I returned to my birthplace of Christchurch, where I presented on a panel with Bill Nagelkerke at a Storylines event at Halswell School. I was lucky enough to catch Gavin Bishop's class beforehand, what a taonga that man is.
Next, the LIANZA national conference where I joined a panel with wonderful, learned colleagues to discuss New Zealand research about reading for pleasure and the impact on literacy and wellbeing for young people. National Library's Elizabeth Jones chaired the panel, which included: Professor Elaine Reese, University of Otago; Sue McDowall, Senior Researcher, NZCER and the wonderful Kate De Goldi, author and Chair of Te Puna Foundation.
Awards
Home for a tiny intake of breath before attending the NZ Spelling Bee to speak to the finalists, and accept a Teacher Award for Services to Literacy.
Saturday then saw me lucky enough to attend and address the Storylines Notable Book Awards in Auckland. I was starstruck as attendees included Joy Cowley, Tessa Duder, and the luminescent Selina Tuisala Marsh, and much fan-boying and connections were made believe me!
I am so incredibly blessed to do this mahi and can't wait to visit every corner of Aotearoa.
Kia Ora magazine
If you are travelling with Air New Zealand this month, check out the article in Kia Ora magazine which features some of National Library's reading initiatives including Te Awhi Rito.
You can also read it online: A new chapter — The mission to change the lives of the next generation, one book at a time.