Hastings Boys’ High students are readers

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 said it breaks her heart when children of minority groups come to the library asking for books about their own cultures and she has to…

When an older generation of Ōtara legends come around to inspire a younger generation. That’s what you call tuakana-teina in action. Speaking words of life into young spirits today at Dawson Primary where I’m working with these children to write about inspirational Ōtarians. An architect, a Kiwi league player, a business mentor, an actor, an…

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 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 later this term. 15 new published authors unleashed into the world. Thank you to Manurewa Local Board for supporting this project.

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 amazing futures. This is Sola who attends Nelson Girls College. We worked on a book together in Auckland with other Tuvaluan young people. Now she’s…

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 have so much to contribute. I related it to an audience at a theatre show vs an audience at a WWE show. Most theatre audiences…