Te Awhi Rito blog

Read and share posts by the current Te Awhi Rito Alan Dingley as he muses on his mahi, the power of stories and inspiring tamariki and rangatahi to become readers. ‘Reading is the doorway. Nau mai, haere mai’.

Alan Dingley speaking during his final pānui as Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Reading Ambassador.

Alan Dingley — Te pānui o Te Awhi Rito: Reading is the doorway

April 11th, 2025. By Alan Dingley

Watch a recording of Alan Dingley's final pānui as the second Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador.

A very tall ladder going up towards the sky.

Don’t get hung up on the rung

February 11th, 2025. By Alan Dingley

When children read what they enjoy, they are more likely to develop a positive attitude towards reading.

Julia Smith and 2 students from Kerikeri High School with Alan Dingley.

A Reading Ambassador: Being the spark

September 18th, 2024. By Alan Dingley

Being a Reading Ambassador in New Zealand is a role full of joy and fulfilment.

Chapter quest

June 24th, 2024. By Alan Dingley

Chapter books are a vital step in any reader's journey. Join me as I offer tailored recommendations.

An exciting display of books recommended for boys.

Books for boys unleashed: Some tailored recommendations

March 27th, 2024. By Alan Dingley

I regularly get asked for book recommendations and one of the most requested are those for boys.

A selection of books on display. Includes 'The Fix-It Man', 'The Bad Seed,' 'My Elephant is Blue', 'A Monster Call'.

Books as balm

February 23rd, 2024. By Alan Dingley

I have thought about titles I have come across in my librarianship that have served a purpose when words have failed in tough situations.

Events, awards and school sessions

November 10th, 2023. By Alan Dingley

In his latest post, Alan reflects on his busy September and October.

Alan Dingley holding a book and walking between shelving at the National Library Auckland centre.

A call to action

July 11th, 2023. By Alan Dingley

Alan Dingley, Aotearoa New Zealand's new Reading Ambassador, has a call to action for us all. Let's create a nation of readers!

Ben Brown, inaugural New Zealand Reading Ambassador, standing between shelving in a library.

Reading for life

June 16th, 2023. By Ben Brown

What an extraordinary two years as Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Reading Ambassador.

Ben Brown, the inaugural Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Reading Ambassador, presenting his pānui at the National Library. Photo by Mark Beatty.

Ben Brown — Te pānui o Te Awhi Rito: Te hā, te kupu, te kōrero

February 20th, 2023.

Ben reflects on the power of stories and his time as the inaugural Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Reading Ambassador.

Community and Te Awhi Rito supporting ‘rito’ to engage with reading

February 10th, 2023.

In this video, Ben talks about the metaphor of Te Awhi Rito, the role of nurturing and inspiring the ‘rito’ — the young shoot, the children of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Staircase inside Tūranga — Christchurch Central Library.

Libraries: Embassies of reading

December 7th, 2022. By Ben Brown

In this video, Ben talks about libraries — embassies of reading.

Photo of the children's area at Tūranga (Christchurch Central Library). Photo by Sgerbic, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Tūranga and the value of public libraries

November 11th, 2022. By Ben Brown

In this video, Ben introduces Tūranga (Christchurch Central Library) and talks about the value public libraries provide.

View down through bush to baches next to tidal inlet.

A summertime story

November 2nd, 2022. By Ben Brown

For school students, Summer is a long holiday season. Fun in the sun. Six weeks down time from the books with the potential for a ‘summer slide’ in reading engagement.