BOOKS ALIVE BRINGS WELL-KNOWN AUTHORS TO THE REGIONS

Hundreds of students in Palmerston North, Invercargill and Christchurch are set to enjoy immersive events with celebrated and bestselling authors in July and August, thanks to the 2025 Books Alive programme linked to the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

“This is a unique opportunity for tamariki and rangatahi in regions not regularly supported by book events to engage with their favourite – or future favourite – authors,” says Books Alive national coordinator and administrator of the NZCYA awards, Joy Sellen. “Each programme is designed to encourage a sense of belonging and relevance around books and reading.”

“Kids have told us how much they love Books Alive!” – Joy Sellen, Books Alive national coordinator

Books Alive visits Palmerston North for the first time on Tuesday 22 July with a line-up featuring novelists Rachael King and Claire Mabey, illustrators Ruth Paul and Ned Barraud, as well as non-fiction specialist David Riley, all finalists in the 2025 NZCYA awards. Sessions aimed at upper primary and intermediate students from around the Manawatū will run at Palmerston North City Library and the Globe Theatre.

Invercargill will host Books Alive at the city’s Centre Stage Theatre on Wednesday 30 July, with appearances from Samoan author and publisher dynamo Dahlia Malaeulu, junior fiction writers Li Chen and Claire Mabey, and award-winning picture book author Juliette MacIver.

Longtime supporter WORD Christchurch will host the Ōtautahi Books Alive events at Te Aratai College on Friday 8 August featuring David Riley and Juliette MacIver, as well as novelists Kiri Lightfoot and Jane Arthur, and magazine editor turned author Rachel Clare. They are joined by local celebrity Rachael King.

On the day of the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults ceremony in Wellington, Wednesday 13 August, over 20 finalists will feature in a jam-packed programme at the National Library’s Tiakiwai Conference Centre, thanks to Wellington City Libraries.

Spaces at Books Alive Wellington are going fast, but those lucky enough to get in will enjoy behind-the-book talks, live drawing, workshops on writing and illustration, and lightning talk sessions.

All Books Alive events are free, thanks to the support of the Mātātuhi Foundation and regional partners.

Booking is essential, so visit the Books Alive webpage for more details on the events in each centre, and links to registration forms. For any additional enquiries, get in touch with Joy Sellen.

Email: booksalive@nzbookawards.org.nz Subject: Books Alive 2025