Storylines Take Stories on the Road

The Storylines Story Tour brings celebrated New Zealand authors & illustrators to schools, kura kaupapa Māori, libraries and community venues across Aotearoa NZ - especially in regional and remote areas. For many tamariki, it’s their first time meeting a real-life author, sparking joy, curiosity and a love of reading. We’re raising $5,000 to help fund our 2025 Story Tours, covering author fees, van hire, fuel and travel costs. Backed by research from AUT’s LitPlus, we know these visits boost reading engagement, especially for reluctant readers and help tamariki see themselves in stories. Every dollar supports equitable access to books and storytelling, inspiring the next generation of readers and writers. With help, we can ensure stories travel to every corner of the motu.

About Us:
We’re Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust of New Zealand Te Whare Waituhi Tamariki o Aotearoa, a passionate team of writers, illustrators, educators, librarians and book lovers dedicated to growing a nation of young readers. For over 26 years, we’ve connected tamariki and rangatahi with the magic of books and the people who create them.

Our Creative Practice:
We believe storytelling is a vital part of tamariki wellbeing, literacy and identity. Through our Storylines Story Tours, we bring celebrated authors and illustrators into schools and communities across the motu, creating unforgettable experiences that ignite imagination and build reading confidence.

Our team oversees award programmes and works alongside publishers, kura, libraries and community groups to ensure every child has the opportunity to see themselves in stories - and be inspired to tell their own.

Why We're Fundraising:

We’re raising $5,000 to support the next Story Tour, taking authors and illustrators into schools, libraries, kura and community hubs across Aotearoa New Zealand – especially those in regions often missed out.

Your donations will directly fund:

• ✍️ Author and illustrator fees – $2,000
• 🚐 Van hire and fuel – $1,500
• 🛏️ Travel and accommodation – $1,500

Every dollar helps us reach more tamariki, create moments of connection, and show kids that stories belong to everyone – including them.

What Your Donation Supports:

💛 $20 – puts petrol in the van for 50km
📚 $50 – covers food for an author/ illustrator for a day
🚌 $180 – covers a nights accommodation
👩‍🏫 $200 – funds an author visit to a remote school
✨ $350 – funds an entire day of storytelling, joy and connection

📚 Help Storylines Take Stories on the Road 🚐

Bringing books, authors, and inspiration to tamariki across Aotearoa.

The Vision:

Imagine being a child in a small rural school or kura kaupapa Māori, where books are treasured, but author visits are rare – if they happen at all.

Now imagine the magic of a real-life author walking through the door, reading their stories, answering questions, and showing kids that storytelling is for them too.

That’s the power of the Storylines Story Tour – and with your help, we can keep that magic alive.

What the Research Says:

Aotearoa’s leading literacy researchers at AUT LitPlus found that Story Tours:

• ✅ Boost children’s interest in reading and writing
• ✅ Help reluctant readers find their book
• ✅ Provide vital cultural and language connections
• ✅ Support teachers with inspiration and new tools

“After the visit, more kids went to the library than ever before.” – School librarian, Northland

Why It Matters:

Many children in Aotearoa NZ grow up without seeing authors who look or sound like them. Without exposure to books in te reo Māori. Without the chance to discover the joy of stories that reflect their world.

The Storylines Story Tour changes that.

We’ve been doing this for over a decade. We know it works. We’ve seen the spark.
Now we need your help to keep the wheels turning.