Author: Reading Warrior

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 is to make a lot of books that are rugby league-themed to help kids with their reading. The series is called “Light It Up!” I’m…

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 children chanting the words of the Sipi Tau and Samoan children doing the same with the Siva Tau. This really inspired me to think of…

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 of Te Ākitai Waiohua iwi. This mahi is important because the place names help keep alive the stories of people, events and the environment which…

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 Intermediate to change that perception. In this collection of writing the children write about the people, places and memories of their streets which are uplifting…

(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 worrying that their writing will be judged or “marked”. This evening we launched a book of some of the writing – a collection by ten…

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 when it rains heavily because of the damage the floods cause. They asked if we could make a book to ease some of the worry…

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 of why you like to play rugby league, your inspirations, challenges and proud moments, and your future dreams. If anyone would like to read these…

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 – it’s called Ask the Elders – because it creates content for Pacific and other young people that’s written by Pacific young people and their families….

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?” Here are some of their responses :Never give up on your dreamsBooks can change your lifeBelieve in yourself and find people who believe in…

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 they’re in the perfect place to build on the things their families have already been instilling in them. Our country has an amazing future because…

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 (Ngāpuhi and Ngāi Tahu) and Tongan heritage. It was so inspiring to hear her stories and I can’t wait to share them in a new…

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 writing a book called Whakapau Kaha Mārika Mātou! We Go Hard! that shares their perspectives playing rugby league and it’s awesome to catch their voices…

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 artist Tyrown Waigana who’s from the same clan as Hamiso. I’m so excited about this book not just because I get to work with Tyrown,…

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 Sylvia Park learners were truly inspired! We were lucky to have author David Riley visit and speak with our Year 4–6 and Year 7–8 students….

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 Witnesses. Elders shared stories about treasured objects and the children wrote and illustrated the stories. Many of the elders said they looked forward to the…

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 Richie’s journey to rugby stadiums around the world. But it’s more than a rugby story. It’s about the power of self-belief. The need to make sacrifices. The joy of seeing…

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 children recently moved to Sāmoa and his son is in a book we launched in June. Sometimes you meet people you click with immediately as…

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 film version of The Whale Rider with my students at TC. Never did I think I would even meet Witi, but share an event with…

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 can purchase a copy here: https://readingwarrior.com/product/alena-saili/

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 the school’s Matariki celebrations. Ngā mihi Te Kawerau ā Maki for trusting us with your taonga story, and Donna Nee Tumuaki of Henderson North Kura…

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 admire their talents in their own pukapuka Te Whetū o te Kōrero – Star of a Story. There’s so many talented young people in our…

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 after the launch of our book ‘Sāmoa’ today. We launched the tusi at Robert Louis Stevenson School in Apia. One of my favourite parts was…

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 his work. Sarah’s illustrations are so beautiful! Yu can purchase a copy here: https://readingwarrior.com/product/poem-for-ataahua/

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 children will read this story which is an important story for Kiwi kids to know. The book is illustrated by Munro Te Whata and we’re…