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Writers in Communities

We enable communities whose voices would otherwise be marginalised to tell their stories. Communities host a writer-in-residence who works alongside them to develop their stories, culminating in a published book and launch event.

There is power in representation and exclusion. Everyone needs to see themselves and each other in the authors who visit and in stories.

Overview

An extension to our Writers in Schools programme, we have delivered our standalone Writers in Communities projects every year since 2013.

Together with the National Library and the Reading Together programme, a Ministry of Education-supported project which encourages family and whānau to read to their children, we discussed ideas for collaborative projects which would make a real difference in the community. 

Writers in Communities was the result. It gives students the chance to get up close and personal with some wonderfully creative writers, and it is also uncovering some budding young authors and illustrators.

The 2021 launch of Voqa ni Veisemati: Vola Italanoa ni Viti e Aotearoa, a Writers in Communities project in Wellington.


In 2021, we partnered with the Ministry of Education to deliver six projects in Pasifika language communities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.

However in most cases, schools host an author-in-residence over two terms. The authors encourage and inspire the students to develop their creative writing talents, and help them to publish their work in an anthology.

Families in the community also have the chance to participate in workshops, exploring the ideas their children write about. They give the writers suggestions of what might draw their children out. And some, much to their own surprise, do some writing themselves.

And let’s not forget the teachers – over 100 of them enjoy writing workshops and professional development sessions with our five writers, which spark ideas to get their students enjoying all that a good book has to offer.

The projects culminate in a celebratory book launch for students and their families.

“Our community projects are about reading and writing, but also family, identity and culture. It’s about the relationship between writers and readers, and what happens when feelings and thoughts are explored through words. Through this project, we make a real difference in the lives of thousands of people.” Catriona Ferguson, Former CEO

Completed projects

  • 2015: Fairburn School (Paula Green), Panama Road School (Grace Teuila Evelyn Taylor), Ōtāhuhu Primary (Vasanti Unka), St Joseph’s Ōtāhuhu (Lino Nelisi), Ōtāhuhu Intermediate (Paula Morris)
  • 2016: Fairburn School (Tony Williams), Panama Road School (Melinda Szymanik), Ōtāhuhu Primary (Vasanti Unka), St Joseph’s Ōtāhuhu (Selina Tusitala Marsh), Ōtāhuhu Intermediate (Paula Morris)
  • 2017: Fairburn School (Janice Marriott and Zechariah Soakai), Panama Road School (Melinda Szymanik), Ōtāhuhu Primary (Vasanti Unka), St Joseph’s Ōtāhuhu (Selina Tusitala Marsh), Ōtāhuhu Intermediate (Siobhan Harvey), Featherston School (Fifi Colston), South Featherston School (Jan Farr), St Teresa’s School (Philippa Werry)
  • 2018: Fairburn School (Sue Copsey), Panama Road School (Melinda Szymanik), Ōtāhuhu Primary (Zechariah Soakai), St Joseph’s Ōtāhuhu (Vasanti Unka), Ōtāhuhu Intermediate (Daren Kamali), Pahiatua School (Ali Foster), Balance School & Pongaroa School (Diana Neild), Mangataioka School (Jan Farr), Mangatainoka School (Jan Farr)
  • 2019: Papatoetoe Intermediate (Vasanti Unka) and St Mary MacKillop School (David Riley)
  • 2020: Papatoetoe Intermediate (Vasanti Unka) and Flat Bush School (David Riley)
  • 2021: Hato Pāora College (te hā with IIML) and Pacific Advance Secondary School (David Riley, Reading Warrior)

For more information on our annual schools community project, email our Programmes Manager

Students from Hato Paora College in Feilding, at Te Herenga Waka University for writing workshops. Their anthology, Te Aka Tātou, was published in 2021.

We run campaigns to encourage New Zealanders to read, research our reading habits and barriers to reading, and advocate for the importance of reading.

  • 44K+
    School students reached
  • 13
    Regions throughout Aotearoa New Zealand
  • 90
    Writers engaged
  • 44K+
    School students reached
  • 13
    Regions throughout Aotearoa New Zealand
  • 90
    Writers engaged

Read NZ Te Pou Muramura Help fund our amazing programmes.

Read NZ Te Pou Muramura

Every cent goes towards us building our campaigns to encourage New Zealanders to read, research our reading habits and barriers to reading, and advocate for the importance of reading.