Storytelling is powerful

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 the children knowing they’re achieving the dreams their families have for them. You can take a look inside the book and buy a copy here…

“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 to their own kāinga pukapuka – home libraries. The books are culturally specific e.g. a box of Maori books for a Maori family, Samoan books…

“Hi David. Just thought I would let you know about a mum who came in this morning to tell me about her son last night.  He normally kind of grunts when she asks him about his day but last night he followed her around the house to relive your talk pretty much word by word. …

I’m working on a new book in the Pasifika Heroes series – Tokelau Heroes. Today my students performed a play about Lata, a legendary Tokelau hero. It was a show for children and was performed at Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau.

In term 3 I worked with children and families from the wonderful Auckland Tuvalu Community Trust to make a bilingual book celebrating Tuvalu people, history and culture. We launched the book during Tuvalu Language Week. It’s so cool that children of Tuvaluan heritage can see themselves represented in literature. It was also cool to do…

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 beloved home South Auckland.