What’s been happening

Today we celebrated children in the special needs unit at Kedgley Intermediate School. They call these children superheroes and really care for them. We’ve been making a book together and…

I’m doing a project with children in the Samoan unit at Clendon Park School in Manurewa. We started the project with a parents fono so the parents could understand what…

“Stories are everywhere.” (Joy Cowley). Young writers at Te Papapa School proving it today ✍🏽

Another day in Rewa … Amazing evening with Chad Robertson celebrating a new book written and illustrated  by children of Randwick Park School in Manurewa. My favourite part is when…

Here’s a first look at the cover for a new children’s book I’m making with illustrator Chad Robertson. It’s a history of the Wahs … coming soon!

Truly honoured to share thoughts with teachers at the Manaiakalani Pasifika Conference in Glen Innes. The theme was empowering students’ voices, an awesome theme. Our young people and their families…

Another day in Rewa … Today we launched another book of Manurewa children’s writing and art: Kua Kore Tōku Mataku – I’m Not Scared Now. Everglade Primary children wrote about…

Another day in Rewa … Awesome time celebrating these inspirational children from Te Whānau Awhina at Clendon Park School in Manurewa. We’ve been making a book about their love for…

“David didn’t just visit our school as an author. He left our children believing that their own stories matter, that reading can open doors, and that their futures are full…

Look at the pride and joy in these children as they read a book they wrote. I worked with Room 12 at Weymouth School and helped them publish a book…

Today at Helensville Primary School I shared a message about how reading can change your life. I noticed a group of boys while I was speaking seemed to not really…

Four days a week she’s a doctor. The other three days she’s a world champion powerlifter! Find out how this Māori-Tongan wahine toa from South Auckland did it, in this…

I had a great time participating in Wheelers Insights series about boys and reading. We shared ideas with teachers and librarians in Christchurch and Auckland.

Today I got to spend time with Sera Clayton the first captain of Fetū Sāmoa (Samoan women’s rugby league team). Sera shared stories with me for a new children’s book…

Blessed today to spend time with league legend Duane Mann,  who played in the first MMT team (1986). It’s a Rugby League World Cup year so I’m writing books about…

Here’s an interview I did with Carolanne Toetu’u of Pacific Media Network about a new project with Tongan children. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DkPSUX9Ab

I’ve been thinking of ways to use young peoples’ love of their cultures and rugby league to help them with their literacy – so my goal this World Cup year…

New book released. It’s about Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, a rugby league player with Samoan and Torres Strait Islands heritage.

One thing I noticed from going to the Pacific Champs league games was how many children and young people were at the games repping their national teams. I saw Tongan…

Another cool project I got to do this year was work with children of Weymouth Primary to share stories of place names in the Manurewa area which tell the stories…

Sometimes when you hear the phrase “the streets” it has negative connotations, especially the streets of places like Manurewa. That’s why I’ve been doing this project with children of Waimāhia…

(Ode To An(often dis)Regarded Audience) Earlier this year I started a writers club at Tupu Youth Library in Ōtara. It’s a place young people can come and just write without…

I’ve been working with children at Matua Ngaru School in Kumeū to make a book about the river which sometimes floods during storms. Many people in this community are anxious…

Ngā mihi to the Manurewa Marlins under 13 Maidens rugby league team – players, management and families. We did it! We published a book of your writing- sharing your stories…

Today we launched 5 bilingual Fiji children’s books at Kedgley Intermediate. The books were written by Fijian young people with the help of their families. I love this project –…

I had a cool visit with Senior Pasifika students at Edendale School today. At the end of the workshop, I asked the kids: “What do you want to remember from…

Today I got to visit students in the middle school at Sir Edmund Hilary Collegiate in Ōtara. I find these young people really inspiring because they have big dreams and…

Today I was blessed to interview Dr Karlina Tongotea who is not only a doctor but a world champion power lifter! Lina is South Auckland- raised and comes from Māori…

Cool morning working with filmmaker, writer, director and actor Vela Manusaute and his sons Rocky Manusaute and Hector Polataivao, filming girls from the Manurewa Marlins u13 Maidens. The girls are…

Here’s an interview I did with Radio NZ about the Silent Witnesses project: https://www.rnz.co.nz/life/people/it-was-beautiful-to-see-the-friendships-growing

First showing of the art from a new book I’m making for kids about Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow aka “Hammer” an NRL player with the Dolphins. It’s awesome working with Saibai Island…

I had an awesome visit to Sylvia Park School today sharing important messages of encouragement with them. Here’s what the school posted about it on their Facebook page: Today our…

Today we launched this beautiful book at Elmwood Resthome. Ten children from The Gardens School have been working with 10 elders living in nearby Elmwood Rest Home on a special project called Silent…

Reading Warrior has a new sports-life biography to help celebrate Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e Lea Faka-Tonga – Tongan Language Week. Kickin’ It: the Richie Mo’unga Story is the inspirational story of…

A massive fa’afetai lava to Jacob Farani-Faga and Sia Farani-Faga for this awesome short film about the book Sāmoa which we made this year. Jake, his wife Sia, and their…

Hanging out with Libby Gray, Rebecca Ter Borg and the legendary matua Witi Ihimaera at the Children’s Book Awards. I remember reading Pounamu Pounamu as a kid, and watching the…

Alena Saili tells how a young Samoan from the deep south of Aotearoa-New Zealand became a two-time gold Olympic gold medalist and one of the greats of women’s rugby! You…

https://www.macleans.school.nz/news/author-david-riley-visits

I’ve been working with tamariki at Henderson North School on a book celebrating a famous pūrākau story from Te Kawerau ā Maki. Today we launched the pukapuka as part of…

Amazing day celebrating Matariki-Puanga with a book launch at Leabank School in Manurewa. These awesome young scholars are now published authors and illustrators and the world gets to read and…

Need a book about Samoan history and culture for children? We got you! 43 Samoan children living in Sāmoa, NZ, and around the world, are now published authors and illustrators…

I’m so happy this book has been shortlisted in the NZ Children’s Book Awards. It means more children will read Alistair Te Ariki Campbell’s awesome poem and get to know…

I just found out that Black Magic has been shortlisted in the 2025 NZ Children’s Book Awards. That’s cool man! Not because I’m after awards but because it means more…

Amazing day celebrating Solomon Islands culture and stories with the launch of 5 bilingual children’s books by Mary Polosovai illustrated by Chad Robertson. I met Irene Tufuga, Pasifika Librarian, who…

Here’s an Auckland Council story about my work with students at Ferguson Intermediate in Ōtara: https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/news/2024/09/empowering-minds-inspiring-young-publishers/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMPOP1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFkcWJlb3U5RlBnRmxmMHl5AR40bqrJBYeblbzDW2BtL-urahY9AR_Uu_xwXkd77MM_UxYVtcWLpvT0_j4EYg_aem_JBLEpF_PGVK4_AIgNjCwVg

He’s a blond pocket rocket! He’s like a magician with a box of tricks! He’s dazzling, lightning, electrifying! But he’s only 175 centimetres (5 feet 9 inches) tall and weighs…

Stephen Crichton tells how a young Samoan from Australia became one of the stars of the NRL! Stephen Crichton is a Reading All Stars book. Reading All Stars books are…

I’m really proud of this book because it celebrates some of the greatest athletes from the islands of Oceania! You’ll be inspired by Valerie Adams, the unstoppable Tongan-Kiwi shot putter…

‘No matter what challenges we face, whether its natural disasters, economic struggles, or even personal hardships, Filipinois always find a way to rise above and support each other.’ (Akisha) Last…

Celebrating 10 newly published South Auckland writers. I wanted to be a writer when I was 10 years old at Viscount School in Māngere but never met a writer so…

Today I was interviewed on PMN Radio about the book Niue. https://www.facebook.com/PMNNiue/videos/397164776797634

It’s Niue’s 50th this week. What do you do if you can’t find a children’s book about Niue history and culture? Mele Nemaia, Carolyn Lagahetau and I found Niue children…

The first book in Reading Warrior’s new series Oceania Heritage is Niue, published in 2024 to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Niue Constitution Act 1974. Written and…

Beautiful meeting today with the legendary Niue educator, Mele Nemaia, and Oratia Publishing editor Carolyn Lagahetau – one of the first Pasifika book publishers in the world. It’s Niue’s 50th…

Thank you to staff, students and families of Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu students for a cool time with you doing writing workshops in Kirikiriroa Hamilton and Tauranga Moana.

I’ve been doing a project with these Writing Warriors from Dawson Primary School in Ōtara. We’re making a pukapuka together in which they star as superheroes. These tamariki are creative,…

A pic from our photoshoot at Wiri Central School today. These awesome young people have written a pukapuka about their pride in being Māori. We’re launching their pukapuka during Matariki…

Tamatea Intermediate students are Writing Warriors! Look how focused they are.

22 newly published authors showing off their books at Waimārama School, Hawke’s Bay.

They’re known for their rugby but young men at Hastings Boys’ High School are readers too. It was inspiring sharing with them today as part of a Read NZ Writers…

https://gazette.education.govt.nz/articles/igniting-a-passion-for-writing-through-creative-art/

Today we launched a new book called Hood Heroes, written and illustrated by children at Flat Bush School, Ōtara. It’s such a beautiful feeling when you see the pride of…

This is my favourite part of writing projects with kids: celebrating with the children and their families. This evening we launched The Streets: a celebration of Mt Wellington written by…

“Thank you to former MC student & Author Extraordinare David Riley for the gift of boxes of new books to families in South Auckland so they can start, or add…

I’m making a new book about Black Ferns Sevens try-scoring machine Michaela Blyde. It’s called Strike Hard! The illustrator is Sarah Trolle and Sarah is a teacher too! The korero…

Havelock North Intermediate. My question to the kids: what did you learn from my talk today? Answers: “We can publish books at our age.” “If my work gets rejected –…

St Matthew’s School, Hastings. So cool to share with kids about inspirational people like Israel Adesanya inside an inspirational venue like a church!

Sharing the love of reading with the uso Abel Junior Tutagalevao at Waimārama School, Hawke’s Bay.

Some Kiwi children’s writers – Abel Junior Tutagalevao, Bill Nagelkerke, Brianne Te Paa, and me – on our way to encourage and be inspired by kids at Poukawa School, Hawke’s…

Awesome time at Kedgley Intermediate School today celebrating A Piece of Myself – a book written by these talented young people. The kaupapa of our pukapuka is to praise our…

Today we had a cool celebration of 4 bilingual children’s books I worked on with young people of Māori, Samoan, Chinese and Hindi heritage. The kaupapa of the books is…

Can’t wait to share this new pukapuka with you e te whānau. A celebration of the streets of Mt Wellington written and narrated by talented young writers from Bailey Road…

Much alofa to all those parents who make the tough choice to move their families to places so different to where they’ve come from, just so their children can have…