Reading around Aotearoa New Zealand
For the last few months, Kate De Goldi has spoken about the power and impact of reading for pleasure and reading aloud at schools through Storylines tours, festivals, events, conferences and in the media.
Kate De Goldi (far right) takes questions from the audience. Next to her (R-L) are panellists Shane Robinson, School Principal of Maungaraki School; Sue McDowall, Senior Researcher at New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER); Stephen Clothier, Children’s and Youth Services Coordinator at Wellington City Libraries; Juliet Blyth, Chief Executive of ReadNZ.
Reading aloud
In July, Kate took part in the Storylines tours to Te Tai Tokerau. On these tours, Kate reads aloud and discusses stories and reading for pleasure with ākonga and school staff. Kate says:
‘These conversations are really valuable — hearing across a variety of schools what the student reading trends and barriers are; what’s working well for the librarians in terms of attracting kids to the books; getting a sense of their wider school/classroom reading barometers.’
Read more about the educational and developmental advantages for the child who is read aloud to and with, in Kate’s blog. It also includes some great read-alouds: Reading to your children — at home, or in class.
Public talks
Talks for U3A have been an excellent opportunity for Kate to speak with an audience that is curious, concerned and eager to communicate about reading for pleasure to their families and whānau, social groups, workplaces and other communities.
In May, she spoke to an almost full Embassy Theatre for Wellington U3A, which led to an invitation to speak at the Booksellers Conference.
Festivals and events
Kate spoke at the launch of this year’s WORD programme in July and is Chair of WORD’s Reading for Pleasure Book Salon.
In July, she spoke to a gathering at the Kerikeri Library organised by the Life Education Trust. Kate also spoke at the Kids Lit Quiz (KLQ) final ‘Gala’ dinner to parents and KLQ finalists from 8 countries, including New Zealand.
New Zealand Children’s Book Week 2026
In August, ReadNZ was the lead of this year's inaugural New Zealand Children's Book Week. Kate had a busy week, participating in several events. She spoke at:
Dunedin Public Library
the award ceremony for the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults
chaired a reading panel at the National Library on strengthening school reading communities.
Kate also featured in the NZ Children's Book Week: National Read Along video, highlighting the award-winning 'Dazzlehands'.
Media mentions
The quiet crisis in New Zealand’s classrooms | The Post — Kate wrote about her first year as Te Awhi Rito for Newsroom.
Reading between the lines: The true cost of low literacy — an interview on RNZ Saturday programme with Susie Ferguson.
Kate De Goldi on the reading crisis — an edited version of the talk given at the Booksellers Conference in late July on Newsroom's ReadingRoom.
NZ Children's Book Week 2026 — Alice Adank's response to Kate's Booksellers Conference address in The Sapling.
The power of reading: A Q&A with Kate De Goldi — in conversation with Alice Adank.
The Lynley Dodd Children's Writer's Award — Kate's address at the celebratory event posted on The Sapling.