New Zealand Book Month 2008
September 2008
NZ Book Month is a non-profit initiative that has the whole book industry behind it, from writers and publishers to bookshops and libraries. Quite simply, the idea is to get more of us reading New Zealand books - to celebrate and showcase the brilliant writing talent we have, to support new and upcoming writers in our country, to tap into the pride we feel in our literary landscape and show you that whatever your taste, there’s a fantastic New Zealand book for you.
This year's events
- Performances by date
- Akaroa Library
- Central Library
- Fendalton Library
- Halswell Library
- Hornby Library
- Linwood Library
- Lyttelton Library
- New Brighton Library
- Parklands Library
- Shirley Library
Akaroa Library
Saturday 13 September 2008: Author Visit
Author and poet David Gregory will read from and discuss his book Land Very Fertile, Poetry and Prose of Banks Peninsula. Come along and be in to win a copy.
- Saturday 13 September 2008, 2:00pm - 3:00pm at Akaroa Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Central Library
Monday 1 September: Readings at the library
Students from the Hagley Writer's Institute and the School for Young Writers will read their work.
- 1 September 2008, 12:00pm - 1:00pm at Central Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Thursday 4 September 2008: NZ Book Month Storytime
Storytime for pre-schoolers with a Kiwi flavour featuring favourite New Zealand stories.
- 4 September 2008, 10:00am - 10:30am at Parklands Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Thursday 4 September 2008: NZ Books Toddler Time
Toddler time with a Kiwi flavour featuring favourite New Zealand stories. Every Thursday during September at Centre for the Child from 10.30-11am.
- 4 September 2008, 10:30am - 11:00am at Central Library, Centre for the Child, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Thursday 4 September 2008: Writing your autobiography
Need some help to get started? Let library staff guide you as part of a small group in a series of four sessions on Thursdays, 4, 11, 18 and 25th September. Please bring along a pen and paper.
- 4 September 2008, 11:00am - 25 September 2008, 12:30pm at Central Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings required, phone 9417923
Tuesday 9 September 2008: Author Visit
Authors Charisma Rangipunga and Hana O'Regan will read from and discuss their book KUPU - a collection of contemporary Māori poetry. Come along and be in to win a copy of the book.
- 9 September 2008, 5:30pm - 6:30pm at Central Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Thursday 11 September 2008: NZ Books Toddler Time
Toddler time with a Kiwi flavour featuring favourite New Zealand stories. Every Thursday during September at Centre for the Child from 10.30-11am.
- 11 September 2008, 10:30am - 11:00am at Central Library, Centre for the Child, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Thursday 11 September 2008: Writing your autobiography
Need some help to get started? Let library staff guide you as part of a small group in a series of four sessions on Thursdays, 4, 11, 18 and 25th September.
Please bring along a pen and paper.
- 04 September 2008, 11:00am - 25 September 2008, 12:30pm at Central Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings required, phone 9417923
Tuesday 16 September 2008: What to read next?
How to decide what to read for you and your family. Get lots of good ideas and explore useful resources.
- 16 September 2008, 10:30am - 12:00pm at Central Library, 2nd floor Training room.
- Event cost is FREE, bookings required, phone 9417923
Thursday 18 September 2008: NZ Books Toddler Time
Toddler time with a Kiwi flavour featuring favourite New Zealand stories. Every Thursday during September at Centre for the Child from 10.30-11am.
- 18 September 2008, 10:30am - 11:00am at Central Library, Centre for the Child, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Thursday 18 September 2008: Writing your autobiography
Need some help to get started? Let library staff guide you as part of a small group in a series of four sessions on Thursdays, 4, 11, 18 and 25th September.
Please bring along a pen and paper.
- 04 September 2008, 11:00am - 25 September 2008, 12:30pm at Central Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings required, phone 9417923
Thursday 18 September 2008: Blogging workshop
Professional Blogger and Librarian Moata Tamaira presents a session discussing how to make sure your blog's not a dog with tips on writing style, content and blogging tricks of the trade.
- 18 September 2008, 11:00am - 12:00pm at Central Library Computer Training Room, Level 2, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Thursday 18 September 2008: Library Tour
Take a tour of the Central Library with a special look at the Aotearoa New Zealand Centre.
- 18 September 2008, 11:00am - 12:00pm at Central Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Saturday 20 September 2008: Travel writing workshop
They pay you to do what? Want to earn money for travel by writing? Come and learn from Heather Hapeta (New Zealand Society of Authors) who has published travel articles for over 10 years.
- 20 September 2008, 1:00pm - 3:00pm at Central Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings required. Phone: 941 7923
Thursday 25 September 2008: NZ Books Toddler Time
Toddler time with a Kiwi flavour featuring favourite New Zealand stories. Every Thursday during September at Centre for the Child from 10.30-11am.
- 25 September 2008, 10:30am - 11:00am at Central Library, Centre for the Child, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Thursday 25 September 2008: NZ Books Toddler Time
Toddler time with a Kiwi flavour featuring favourite New Zealand stories. Every Thursday during September at Centre for the Child from 10.30-11am.
- 25 September 2008, 10:30am - 11:00am at Central Library, Centre for the Child, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Thursday 25 September 2008: Writing your autobiography
Need some help to get started? Let library staff guide you as part of a small group in a series of four sessions on Thursdays, 4, 11, 18 and 25th September.
Please bring along a pen and paper.
- 04 September 2008, 11:00am - 25 September 2008, 12:30pm at Central Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings required, phone 9417923
Fendalton Library
Thursday 25 September 2008: Kids and Books
Viv (Children's & Young Adults Librarian, Fendalton) and Megan (Selection & Access Librarian) will be talking about : great reads for kids, recommending titles for reading development, books to share with your kids, how to keep the joy of reading alive once kids go to school, key authors to watch out for, titles to read as adults.
The presentation will take 30minutes, with time for questions and discussion afterwards.
- 25 September 2008, 6:00pm - 7:00pm at Fendalton Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Tuesday 30 September 2008: Holiday Storytime for 5-7 year olds
Professional storyteller Liz Weir will delight children with a selection of New Zealand stories. Limited Numbers, bookings required.
- 30 September 2008, 10:30am - 11:00am at Fendalton Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings required, Phone: 941 7923
Halswell Library
Friday 12 September 2008: NZ Book Month Storytime
Storytime for pre-schoolers with a Kiwi flavour featuring favourite New Zealand stories.
- 12 September 2008, 11:00am - 11:30am at Halswell Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Friday 26 September 2008: NZ Book Month Storytime
Storytime for pre-schoolers with a Kiwi flavour featuring favourite New Zealand stories.
- 26 September 2008, 11:00am - 11:30am at Halswell Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Hornby Library
Thursday 11 September 2008: Personal Development Seminars
PDS educational trust works towards the enhancement of individuals so that they can more positively contribute to their families, society, their culture and the world. Come along and learn how you can have successful relationships, how you can reduce your stress levels and how you can enhance the quality of your life. No cost to attend.
- 11 September 2008, 10:00am - 11:00am at Hornby Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Saturday 13 September 2008: Personal Development Seminars
PDS educational trust works towards the enhancement of individuals so that they can more positively contribute to their families, society, their culture and the world. Come along and learn how you can have successful relationships, how you can reduce your stress levels and how you can enhance the quality of your life. No cost to attend.
- 13 September 2008, 11:00am - 12:00pm at Hornby Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Tuesday 16 September 2008: NZ Book Month Babytime
Babytime with a Kiwi flavour.
- 16 September 2008, 10:15am - 10:45am at Hornby Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Wednesday 17 September 2008: NZ Book Month Storytime
Storytime for pre-schoolers with a Kiwi flavour featuring favourite New Zealand stories.
- 17 September 2008, 10:15am - 10:45am at Hornby Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Linwood Library
Thursday 18 September 2008: NZ Book Month Storytime
Storytime for pre-schoolers with a Kiwi flavour featuring favourite New Zealand stories.
- 18 September 2008, 10:00am - 10:30am at Linwood Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Lyttelton Library
Thursday 11 September 2008: Author Visit
Author and poet David Gregory will read from and discuss his book Land Very Fertile, Poetry and Prose of Banks Peninsula. Come along and be in to win a copy of the book.
- 11 September 2008, 6:00pm - 7:00pm at Lyttelton Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
New Brighton Library
Thursday 25 September 2008: Storytime for 5-7 year olds
Professional storyteller Liz Weir will delight students with a selection of New Zealand stories. School class bookings welcome. Limited numbers.
- 25 September 2008, 1:30pm - 2:00pm at New Brighton Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings required, Phone: 941 7923
Parklands Library
Thursday 11 September 2008: NZ Book Month Storytime
Storytime for pre-schoolers with a Kiwi flavour featuring favourite New Zealand stories.
- 11 September 2008, 10:00am - 10:30am at Parklands Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Thursday 18 September 2008: NZ Book Month Storytime
Storytime for pre-schoolers with a Kiwi flavour featuring favourite New Zealand stories.
- 18 September 2008, 10:00am - 10:30am at Parklands Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Shirley Library
Tuesday 2 September: NZ Book Month Storytime
Storytime for pre-schoolers with a Kiwi flavour featuring favourite New Zealand stories.
Every Tuesday throughout September, 10:15am - 10:45am
- 2 September 2008, 10:15am - 10:45am at Shirley Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Tuesday 9 September: NZ Book Month Storytime
Storytime for pre-schoolers with a Kiwi flavour featuring favourite New Zealand stories.
Every Tuesday throughout September, 10:15am - 10:45am
- 9 September 2008, 10:15am - 10:45am at Shirley Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Tuesday 16 September: NZ Book Month Storytime
Storytime for pre-schoolers with a Kiwi flavour featuring favourite New Zealand stories.
Every Tuesday throughout September, 10:15am - 10:45am
- 16 September 2008, 10:15am - 10:45am at Shirley Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Tuesday 23 September: NZ Book Month Storytime
Storytime for pre-schoolers with a Kiwi flavour featuring favourite New Zealand stories.
Every Tuesday throughout September, 10:15am - 10:45am
- 23 September 2008, 10:15am - 10:45am at Shirley Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Tuesday 30 September: NZ Book Month Storytime
Storytime for pre-schoolers with a Kiwi flavour featuring favourite New Zealand stories.
Every Tuesday throughout September, 10:15am - 10:45am
- 30 September 2008, 10:15am - 10:45am at Shirley Library, Christchurch, NZ
- Event cost is FREE, bookings not required
Library resources about New Zealand Authors
Childrens’ Authors
Our childrens’ librarians have compiled extensive interviews with a who’s who of children’s writers in this country and short stories from well known writers are published on our website at New Zealand Children's Authors Interviews & Stories
Book Awards
The libraries’ website lists the winners of some key New Zealand book awards & childrens’ book awards.Booklists
- Modern New Zealand historical fiction
- Modern New Zealand novelists
- New Zealand mystery and adventure writers
- Modern New Zealand romantic fiction writers
- New Zealand short stories
- Māori writers
Using our Catalogue
Explore our catalogue using the Browse Catalogue function and enter "New Zealand Fiction" or "New Zealand History" to get some idea of the scope of our resources. A selection of subject searches.
- Detective and Mystery Stories New Zealand
- Young Adult Fiction New Zealand
- New Zealand native plant gardening
- New Zealand Politicians
Some good sites to find news and reviews of New Zealand books
- Christchurch City Libraries Blog
- "Our mission is to keep you in touch withour world, sharing views, opinions and ideas on reading, listening and watching. Our world is the world of information, so our team spend their working (and private) lives exploring books, movies, magazines, music, the web and more."
- New Zealand Book Council
- The Council is a not-for-profit organisation that presents a wide range of programmes promoting a love of books and reading
- Booksellers New Zealand
- Organisation representing the New Zealand book trade. Their site has bestseller lists for New Zealand fiction and non fiction.

