Toitoi is lucky enough to be part of an amazing community of people and organisations who support young New Zealanders to have their voices heard. Here are a few we love and admire.
Pictures by Ryan Teng, age 8
Services to Schools provides advice and support to school library staff and teachers on school library development, reading engagement, digital literacy and learning resources.
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Improving literacy outcomes for students by providing teachers with quality training and resources.
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The Sapling is a website all about children’s books … because books grow humans. The aim of The Sapling is to find conversations nobody has been able to have in the main media about children’s books and give them a good airing.
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The Intermediate Writers Award is a unique non-fiction essay competition open to NZ Students, Years 5 to 8. The Award is designed to offer a competitive and authentic opportunity for students to engage in purposeful writing.
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The Young Writers Programme is designed for senior secondary school students who are interested in creative writing. Students have the opportunity to attend one-day workshops on aspects of writing or master classes with leading writers.
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Creative Rights = Creative Reads is led by The New Zealand Society of Authors, The Publishers Association of New Zealand, and Copyright Licensing New Zealand. It’s an initiative dedicated to supporting the rights of the people who make books in Aotearoa, and to explaining how these rights work, why they’re important, and the economic, social and cultural benefits we all gain when we value these.
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The Suter offers a comprehensive education service catering for the needs of preschool, primary, secondary, and tertiary students, as well as other community groups.
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Te Rito Toi helps teachers work with children when they first return to school following traumatic or life changing events.
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Free online homework help to New Zealand school students. Chat online with a friendly librarian about a schoolwork question 1 – 6pm weekdays during the school year.
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Hooked on NZ Books is website for young adult (YA) readers all about reviewing and New Zealand books, and a part of Read NZ Te Pou Muramura.
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Innovative, exciting, free resources and classroom kits for New Zealand teachers.
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Dr Murray Gadd works nationally and internationally as a literacy facilitator and researcher, specialising in the effective teaching of writing. He created a series of videoed writing lessons to support teachers, students and their families during Covid-19.
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The National Schools Poetry Award has been providing a forum for young writers in Aotearoa New Zealand since 2003. The Poetry Award is a significant creative opportunity offered to every senior secondary student in New Zealand.
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Auckland Art Gallery offer programmes and tours to suit all levels of students, from early childhood education right through to tertiary. They also have a number of resources for educators to assist you before, during and after your visit.
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Never Such Innocence runs an international poetry, art, speech and song competition for young people aged 9-18, focusing on conflict and its impact. They also provide free, online educational resources and activities to learn about conflict and the value of commemoration.
The 2022/23 question for reflection is:
What does war mean to you?
Submission deadline: March 10, 2023
Read NZ Te Pou Muramura is the leading Aotearoa organisation connecting writers with young readers in schools, from the inner city to remote rural classrooms.
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Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects has run the Warren Trust Writing Awards for Architectural Writing since 2015. There are three categories; Tamariki (up to age 13), Rangatahi (age 13-18) and the Open category. Check out this year's winner and highly commended young authors below.
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Paula Green is a poet, reviewer, anthologist, children’s author, book-award judge and blogger. She posts reviews and challenges each month to inspire young poets on her blog Poetry Box
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Starling considers work from New Zealand writers under 25 years old at time of submission. The deadlines for work to be considered for each issue are 20 April (Winter Issue) and 20 October (Summer Issue).
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City Gallery runs programmes in response to their regularly changing exhibitions, led by trained visual arts teachers who draw on enquiry-based methodologies and a range of teaching strategies to engage multiple learning styles.
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Art workshops for bereavedchildren and those with life threatening illness in their family.
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The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award is an opportunity for any young person aged 11-17 to accelerate their writing career. Each year 100 winners from across the UK and worldwide are chosen by two high profile poets. You can read last year’s winning poems online.
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