About Read NZ Te Pou Muramura

We want all children and adults in Aotearoa to read for pleasure, and all Kiwis to read more because:

• The increasing demands of society and work mean more than ever New Zealanders need to be able to read a wide range of information to function effectively at work and everyday life.
• Approximately 40 percent of adult New Zealanders lack the literacy skills needed to fully participate in our society and economy.
• Encouraging reading, particularly reading for pleasure, is critical for our nation’s prosperity and well-being.
• Establishing reading for pleasure as early in life as possible is important. Students who read for pleasure achieve at a higher level across all subjects than those who do not.
• Reading for pleasure is a more important measure of a child’s education success than their family’s socio-economic status.

We make a difference through:

• Delivering the Writers in Schools programmes, which encourage students to read and write.
• Ensuring the most disadvantaged students have access to the Writers in Schools programmes.
• Researching reading habits and barriers to reading.
• Delivering campaigns targeted to reluctant or non-readers to encourage reading.
• Advocating for the importance of reading.