Update: 135 schools are currently waiting for a Funding Partner. Be the reason these tamariki fall in love with reading.
When a Duffy Role Model walks into a school hall, tamariki meet someone they can learn from. Whether it’s a musician, a scientist, an author, a film producer it is someone whose story they can hear first-hand and, often, see themselves in.
What our schools are saying
Every Role Model brings a different story, and every school takes something different from it. At Ohakune School, tamariki spent their assembly with scientist Courtney Davies, who the school thanked as an “excellent scientist, curious person and promoter of reading!” Their verdict: “Our learners were enthralled and amazed with real science and real fun!”
At Kōraunui School, Johnnie Timu, CEO of Brown Pride, “shared some powerful messages about perseverance, resilience, and making positive choices, which resonated well with our students.” For Craig Gilmour at Kōraunui, the visit was also a chance for students “to strengthen their love of reading.”
Dreaming big starts here
That thread runs through every visit. Role Models talk about where they’ve come from and what got them there, and reading is part of that story.
“Tali was amazing. She was so good with the students, Tali had them all engaged and listening to what she had to say. It was so neat to have her also sing for our tamariki, I think they were all blown away by the fact that she was a rural Taranaki girl who was famous.”
Connie O’Brien, Mimi School
For tamariki at Mimi School, MC and musician Tali Sheppard wasn’t someone from somewhere else. She came from their part of the country. When tamariki meet someone who shares their roots, the distance between where they are and where they could go gets a lot shorter. That’s when dreaming big starts to feel like a plan.
Putting in the mahi
“Our visit from Mr Finau was absolutely amazing. He made a good connection to the students through the stories he told.”
“He let us know how important school, listening and reading are as a young person finding their way in the world. He had our students and must I say our staff very engaged in his korero with us about his life, goals, and how he never gave up and just mahi hard.”
Jess Gigliotti, Aorangi School
That’s the message we want tamariki to carry home: the people they look up to put in the mahi, and reading is part of the mahi.
That lands differently when there’s a book of your own to go home to. Through Duffy, tamariki build home libraries that are theirs, and every new book is another chance to put the mahi in, and read for success.
Remembered for years to come
A name tamariki hold onto. A story they repeat at home. A moment that comes back to them when they’re deciding what they want to do next, and whether they believe they can.
“We absolutely loved our visit from Tim. The best thing was that he was able to relate to our 5-year-olds right through to our 13 year olds which is very difficult to do. He was very relatable and honest, and I have never seen all our 400 kids so engaged. It was a visit that will be remembered for years to come.”
Laura Flaus, Roslyn School
None of these visits happen without our Funding Partners and sponsors, and the Role Models who share their time and stories with tamariki. Thank you for making Term 3 possible!
Meet our Term 3, 2026 Role Models
- Alistair McIntyre, Author/Founder Youth into Industry
- Andy Carruthers, Film maker/Adventurer
- Constable Bryan Ward, Police
- Courtney Davies, Scientist
- Daniel Faitaua, Reporter
- Daniel Mataki, DJ
- Danika Cooper, Jewellery Designer
- Diamond Langi, Former Miss Universe
- Eman Ghandour, Community Leader/Careers Advisor
- Evander Folau, Musician
- Isitolo Alesana & Jasmine Leota, Performance Artists
- Jessica Pawley, Author
- Joanne Guy, Author
- Johnnie Timu, CEO Brown Pride
- Justus Leaoseve, Content Strategy
- Kenape Saupese, Musician
- Kimberley Kearney, Author
- Linda Vagana, Former Silver Fern/Duffy GM
- Noeleen Tuala, Business Leader
- Nua Finau, Film Producer
- Raymond Bishop, Musician
- Sam Smith, Author/Comedian
- Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick, Former Silver Fern
- Tali Sheppard, MC/Musician
- Taofi Mose-Nehemia, Performance Artist
- Tim Tipene, Author
- Tony Laulu, Author
- Torisse Laulu, Founder Lalaga
- Tracey Lambrechs, Former NZ Weightlifter
- Whitney-Lee Banfield, Music Publicist AHUA Collective
- Xavier Breed, Dancer, Community/International Development
Every Role Model Visit Has a Story
Has a Duffy Role Model visited your school? We’d love to hear about it! Share your feedback, photos and favourite moments with us, and your school could be featured in an upcoming Duffy story.
Inspired to make a difference yourself? We’re always keen to hear from people who would love to share their journey and inspire the next generation of readers.