2024 Auckland Writers Festival — books and beyond
National Library Services to Schools is once again partnering with the Auckland Writers Festival. We are delighted to provide a set of teaching guides and exemplars for their Schools Programme | Hōtaka Kura.
Whaowhia te kete mātauranga | Fill the basket of knowledge
The 2024 Auckland Writers Festival Schools Programme | Hōtaka Kura takes place from 14 to 16 May.
With support from the Freemasons Foundation, this programme aims to ‘help students unlock their creativity and curiosity, across a variety of forms and styles’.
Growing inquisitive minds
Mā te kimi ka kite, Mā te kite ka mōhio, Mā te mōhio ka mārama.
Seek and discover, discover and know, know and become enlightened.
Each year, thousands of students converge on the Aotea Centre in Auckland's CBD to engage with writers from Aotearoa and around the globe. This three-day celebration of literature sparks imagination, critical thinking and awareness. It aims to support ākonga on their journey as lifelong readers.
Reading a book and meeting the author is not just a cool event to shake up the regular school routine--it’s a powerful learning opportunity that can affect students academically and personally.
— Ariel Sacks, Five reasons author visits are more than just cool
The writers this year
Elizabeth Acevedo (USA) — author and slam poet.
Rajorshi and Leela Chakraborti (NZ) — writing duo.
Giselle Clarkson (NZ) — illustrator.
Amber Esau (NZ) — poet.
Jason Gunn (NZ) — children's author.
Natalie Haynes (UK) — author, classicist and comedian.
Sophie Henderson (NZ) — screenwriter.
David Hill (NZ) — author.
Rachael King (NZ) — author.
Claire Mabey (NZ) — author and literary festival director.
Dahlia Malaeulu (NZ) — author and publisher.
Selina Tusitala Marsh (NZ) — poet and children's author.
Maryam Master (AUS) — novelist and playwright.
Steph Matuku (NZ) — author and screenwriter.
Airana Ngarewa (NZ) — author and educator.
Deborah Robertson (NZ) — author, educator and outdoor enthusiast.
Zech Soakai (NZ) — spoken word poet and educator.
Tim Tipene (NZ) — author.
Auckland Writers Festival Schools Programme
Find and borrow books from these authors (and others) by searching our Schools Lending Collection.
Book and Beyond guides for exploring literature
Teachers, library staff, parents and other ‘enabling adults’ play a critical role in helping children and young adults become passionate, thoughtful and reflective readers. One of the ways they can do this is to chat with them about books they are reading, have read and would like to read.
Our Book and Beyond guides provide starting points for conversations about books helping to:
deepen and enrich reading experiences
captivate and develop student imagination and spark curiosity
increase student understanding of the world and the human experience
create a personal connection with a book — the story and the physical object
engage students with reading and writing.
Use the guides to spark further reading and enjoyment in book clubs, literature circles and reading groups. Use them in and out of the classroom, in the library and across curriculum contexts.
The 2024 exemplars are for the following books:
No Words by Maryam Master
Pipi and Pou and the Raging Mountain by Tim Tipene
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo.
Read more about and download the Book and Beyond Educator and student guides for exploring children's and YA literature.
Find out more or make a booking
Visit the Auckland Writers Festival website.
You will find the programme, ticket prices, booking information and how to apply for financial support towards transport.