Books Alive in 3 Centres in 2024

Books Alive is a programme of large-scale, immersive events that bring hundreds of kids up close with their favourite and future-favourite authors and illustrators who are finalists in the annual New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

Held in big venues in regional centres in the fortnight leading up to the August awards ceremony, the engaging sessions are programmed by literature experts, and designed to drive a sense of belonging and relevance around books and reading for our tamariki and rangatahi. Kids love Books Alive and look forward to it each year.

The funding received from the Mātatuhi Foundation in 2024 will enable Books Alive organisers, the New Zealand Book Awards Trust Te Ohu Tiaki i Te Rau Hiringa, to continue to host impactful programmes in Wellington and Christchurch, and to add Invercargill as a third centre.

The Trust’s aim is to establish a successful and sustainable model that will allow it to take finalist authors even further afield and to a greater number of kids in future years during the shortlist period of the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.