Posties Bring Books Not Letters To Kids

June 18

Posties Bring Books Not Letters To Kids Around NZ

Posties from around New Zealand have delivered hundreds of books to kids throughout the country as part of New Zealand Post’s support of the Books in Homes programmes.

The books are given to the school winners of the New Zealand Post Great Effort in Reading and Writing Awards which is designed to encourage excellence in reading and writing for children attending low decile schools. Each school chooses three students who have shown real promise in this area.

This year children attending the three schools on Great Barrier Island took part in the programme for the first time.

Great Barrier Island is one of New Zealand’s most remote spots – the most distant of the habited islands in the Hauraki Gulf. Access – by plane or ferry -is limited in winter when bad weather sets in.

Last year New Zealand Post supported providing 1300 books for children from 454 schools throughout New Zealand. This year around 1500 children from 479 schools and 47 kindergartens are receiving the books. The books are gifts for the children to take home.

This year a new award is also being added to the programme because it is the first time kindergartens have taken part. The New Zealand Post Family Reading Award gives three books to a family whose child attends the pre-school to honour that child’s commitment to reading.

New Zealand Post regional sales and service manager Robyn Dalzell, who delivered the books to Great Barrier Island, said this was one of the most fun parts of the job.

“Easy access to books and libraries is really taken for granted on the mainland but it’s much more difficult here on Great Barrier. It’s so exciting to see children engaged in reading.”

The children attend the remote Kaitoke School (roll 58), Mulberry Grove School (roll 28) and Okiwi (roll 15) on the island.

Kaitoke principal Ferna Payne says the children really get excited about the books.

“Books in Homes is about encouraging children to engage in books and reading. These awards support this aim.”

ENDS

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