Young minds take the library
Date: Saturday 14 March 2020, 10am to 3pm
Cost: Free.
Location: Te Ahumairangi (ground floor), National Library, corner Molesworth and Aitken St, Thorndon, Wellington
Contact details: nzfestival@festival.co.nz
Bring the whānau to see author interviews, make your own mini book, write secret notes to leave in library books, and more at this festival for children and young adults. Curated by Bret McKenzie for New Zealand Festival of the Arts.
Activities galore
See author interviews led by young readers, listen to stories read aloud to live improvised music, let a teenager lead you through the Pūkana: Moments in Māori Performance exhibition, write secret notes to leave in library books, take part in workshops and make your own mini book.
Hear and see amazing authors
Authors include international guest Scarlett Thomas (WorldQuake), Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan (The Bomb), Whiti Hereaka (Legacy), Vincent O’Malley (The New Zealand Wars: Nga Pakanga O Aotearoa) and more.
A special guest will be joining us for storytime... keep your eyes on the Festival’s Facebook & Twitter for the big reveal.
Dress up and win
What is a festival without a costume? We will have prizes for best dressed!
Come as your favourite book character and you will be richly rewarded.
This event is part of the New Zealand Festival of the Arts and is proudly supported by National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa
Prizes for parents
The first 50 adults through the doors will receive a bag of L’affare coffee (we got you).
Timetable
Times below are subject to change.
10am to 1pm: Stories and secret notes at He Matapihi
Enjoy story times with Book Girl!, Timotimo and others all morning and make sure you visit the note-writing-and-hiding desk where you can write secret notes and hide them in library books for someone to find.
11am to 2pm: Mini-zine and comic-making
Roll up to the ZineFest table to learn how to make your very own zine or comic! The wonderful artists from ZineFest will be there to guide you in your story-making activity.
11.15am: Picture book workshop
Fun with Words & Pictures with Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan (creators of the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year 2019, ‘The Bomb | Te Pohū0146). Suitable for ages 8+
11.15am: Author interview — Vincent O’Malley
The author of ‘The New Zealand Wars | Ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa’ talks to young
readers about his hugely important book.
12.30pm: Author interview — Whiti Hereaka (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa and Pākehā)
Award-winning playwright and YA-novelist (‘The Graphologist’s Apprentice’, the awardwinning YA novel Bugs and Legacy) talks to a young fan about her life as a writer and what she is writing next.
From 1pm: Explore the Roaming Hut!
Explore this remarkable, sustainable hut made by artists Kemi Niko & Co for their
NZ Festival of the Arts commission, Urban Hut Club.
1.30pm: Author interview — Damien Wilkins
Aotearoa writer Damien Wilkins talks with fellow author Kate De Goldi about Aspiring, a brand new novel about a teenage boy hunting for clues about his hometown, his family and himself.
2.15pm: Stories and music live
Timotimo are a storytelling crew who travel the motu bringing stories to life through taonga puoro and waiata.
🧩😏 Riddle me this, Neighbours…
I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What number am I?
Do you think you know the answer?
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Scam Alert: Bank cold calls
ASB is warning customers about reports of cold calls from scammers claiming to be from ASB. These scammers are trying to obtain personal information, including usernames, dates of birth, and verification codes sent to your mobile phone.
🛡️ The "Caller Check" Test
If you get a call from someone claiming to be from ASB and you’re unsure, just ask them for a Caller Check. You will then be able to verify the call through the app.
Remember, banks will:
❌ Never ask for your banking passwords, PINs, or verification codes
❌ Never need to know your full credit card number – especially the CVC
❌ Never ask you to download software or remotely access your device
❌ Never ask you to purchase gift cards or transfer funds.
If you have received a phone call and think your account has been compromised, call ASB on 0800 ASB FRAUD (0800 272 372), or visit your local branch.
Poll: Are you still heading to your local for your caffeine fix, or has the $$ changed your habits? ☕
Wellington’s identity is built on its cafe culture, but with costs climbing, that culture is under pressure. We’ve seen the headlines about recent closures, and it’s a tough pill to swallow along with a $6+ coffee.
We all want our favourite spots to stay open, but we also have to balance our own budgets ⚖️
We want to know: How are you handling the "coffee math" in 2026? Are you still heading to your local for a chat and a caffeine fix, or has the cost of living changed your habits?
Keen to read more about "coffee math"? The Post has you covered.
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43.6% I avoid spending money on coffee
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46.4% I still indulge at my local cafe
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10.1% Irrelevant - coffee is not for me
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