More Māori and Pasifika talent to inspire reading in schools and kura

In July 2024, Read NZ Te Pou Muramura published an article titled 'More Māori and Pasifika talent to inspire reading in schools and kura', available here. Excerpts from the article:

A new initiative from Read NZ Te Pou Muramura and Mātātuhi Foundation will see eight Māori and Pasifika writers immersed in a week-long training wānanga in Ōtaki this August.

The programme, Pōkai Tuhi, has been developed in response to a growing need identified through Read NZ Te Pou Muramura’s 50-year strong Writers in Schools programme.

Writers in Schools sees around 50,000 tamariki and rangatahi visited by a real author or illustrator in their classroom every year, with transformative results. A Point evaluation of the programme in 2022 identified Māori and Pasifika author visits as a key strength of the work.

"The evaluation showed that some of the most significant benefits of Writers in Schools are when Māori and Pasifika students see themselves in stories, hear positive and affirming cultural narratives, and connect with role models," says Juliet Blyth, CEO.

Demand for Māori and Pasifika author visits is stronger than ever, and the Pōkai Tuhi programme aims to upskill up-and-coming talent for the benefit of tamariki as well as drawing more on the Māori and Pasifika writers currently working with schools nationwide.

"The programme will not only help advance new authors for ongoing Writers in Schools visits, but also help develop another network of Māori and Pasifika writers with the same aims," says Juliet.

"We are looking forward to these talented kaituhi sharing with and learning from each other, as well as from the kura and school visits, and to the flow-on benefits for the entire sector resulting from the increased awareness of these amazing authors."