We’re all about reading so we’ve collated a list of your local libraries free Summer Reading Programmes so tamariki can keep reading this summer.
Northland
Kaipara Libraries
Secret Agent School
9 December – 31 January 2025
Speak to a librarian in Dargaville, Mangawhai or Kaiwaka to receive your mission pack.
https://kaipara.beanstack.org/reader365
Whangarei District Libraries
Dragons Summer Challenge
18 December – 23 January 2025
Collect dragon trading cards over the summer holidays by completing fun challenges. For each challenge you complete, you will earn one Dragon card. The aim is to collect a full set of 20 Dragon trading cards. Once you have collected the full set, then you can play the Dragons card game.
https://www.wdc.govt.nz/library/Whats-on/Events/Dragons-summer-challenges
Auckland
Auckland Libraries
Raumati Reads
16 December – 26 January 2025
Come join us for Raumati Reads – Kiwiana Summer Reading Programme! This summer, your goal is to read a little bit (or a lot!) every day, track your daily reading and complete fun reading activities to be in to earn stickers and more! Complete the activity sets to earn 6 unique stickers for your certificate. Earn your first one just by signing up!
https://www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Pages/school-holidays.aspx
Waikato
Hamilton City Libraries
Read It! Make It! Do It!
9 December 2024 onwards
Whether you’re visiting the beach with your family, or at a park with your friends, this Summer Reading Programme is packed with heaps of things to make this summer the best ever. Read books, complete activities, and attend events throughout the summer at all Hamilton City libraries and be in to win fabulous prizes. Visit your local Hamilton City library from Monday 9 December to sign up and get your summer reading programme booklet.
Older siblings and parents, they have a summer reading programme for you too! Check out Beanstack for more information.
Matamata-Piako Libraries
Summer Collectathon 2025
6 January 2025 onwards
They’re challenging you to collect a total of 20 unique trading cards over two months as you complete a set of awesome tasks at the library, the local pools, the local museums and galleries, and the visitor centres. There are some awesome prizes up for grabs.
https://matamatapiakolibraries.co.nz/whats-on/library-event-list/341-summer-collectathon-2025
Waipā District Libraries
Wild Reads: an outdoor summer reading adventure!
16 December – 24 January 2024
The Summer Reading Programme is back! Free for kids aged 5-12 sign up to complete challenges and receive an invite to one of our finale parties.
From December 16th, you can select challenge cards from your local branch with challenges ranging from reading a particular type of book to exploring the local museum or even going on an outdoor adventure. Complete enough of them and get invited to the end of summer finale party!
https://www.waipalibraries.org.nz/events/summer-reading-programme-2024-25-wild-reads/308
Bay of Plenty
Rotorua Library
The Great Te Aka Mauri Spring Reading Challenge
6 January – 4 February 2025
Join us for The Great Te Aka Mauri Summer Reading Challenge! This is open to all ages, so if you haven’t already – download the Beanstack App and let’s get reading!
https://www.rotorualibrary.govt.nz/children/childrens-events-and-programme/beanstack
Tauranga City Libraries
Summer Reading Challenge
16 December – 28 January 2025
Simply read as much and as frequently as you can over summer (or have someone read to you). You can read whatever you like, and they don’t have to be library books! Visit us three times to share something you’ve been reading, and we’ll reward you with some epic prizes!
There are three age groups:
– Mini Reads (0-4 years old)
– Summer Reads (5-10 years old)
– Teen Reads (11-18 years old)
Central North Island
Taupō District Libraries
Pixel Planet
9 December – 17 January 2025
Do you know your creepers from your endermen, or your piglins from your zombies? Looking for a way to keep the kids entertained over the summer break? The Taupō District Libraries Summer Reading Challenge is the perfect way to keep kids entertained over the holidays! The challenge involves reading books and some easy games and puzzles.
https://www.taupodc.govt.nz/community/libraries/kids#toc-link-0
East Cape
HB Williams Memorial Library
Summer Reading Adventure
12 December – 25 January 2025
Grab an adventure pack from your local Waitaki District Library from the 9th of December, fill in the reading log when you finish a book, and return your reading log back to the library no later than the 25th of January 2025 for your chance to win a prize pack. Summer reading is open to all children and teens of school age.
https://www.waitaki.govt.nz/Libraries/Events-Activities/Summer-Reading-2024
Hawkes Bay
Hastings Libraries
Summer Sparks
2 December – 26 January 2025
A fun set of challenges and activities providing an innovative and dynamic way of encouraging children’s learning and discovery over the summer holidays. Register for Summer Sparks, then start completing challenges and be in to win! Use the button below to register for events and check some of our cool activities. Give them a go! Karawhiua!
https://www.hastingslibraries.co.nz/your-community/programmes/summer-sparks/
Napier Libraries
Ready, Set, Read Challenge
30 November – 18 January 2025
Registrations are now open for children aged 4-15. Pop into either library any time to get your completed challenges stamped off and receive your special collector’s card. There are twelve challenges in all. You can complete as many as you like, in any order, within the time frame. Each completed challenge gives you an entry into both our weekly prize draw and the grand prize draw.
https://www.napierlibrary.co.nz/whats-on/childrens-activities/ready-set-read
Manawatu
Manawatu District Libraries
Readopoly Summer Reading Challenge
9 December – 18 January 2025
Kids will embark on an adventure filled with reading books and completing fun book related tasks. Every participant who returns their board will receive a small prize and be entered into a draw for our fantastic book prizes. You have 6 weeks to complete! Make sure to bring your boards back by Saturday 18th January 2024 to go into our awesome prize draws.
https://www.mchl.co.nz/whats-on/childrens-activities/readopoly
Palmerston North City Library
Summer Reading 2024-25
25 November – 23 January 2025
Ages 4-13
This programme promotes the enjoyment of reading for tamariki over Summer for readers of all abilities. Our team will assist participating tamariki with their reading and encourage them to talk about what they have read when they come in for a book chat. We also provide assistance to parents and families in what services the library has to offer. Tamariki will earn rewards as they progress and if they complete four book chats they get to attend our finale event with their whānau.
Taranaki
Puke Ariki
Come on a reading journey through the forest!
16 December – 31 January 2025
For ages 5-12 | Prizes up for grabs | Register before 23 December
Come on a reading adventure through Te Waonui o Tane this summer! As you ascend through each layer of the forest, you will meet one of the unique creatures that make their home here. To check off each level of your journey, come and speak to a librarian about a book you have read, and receive a sticker of your new forest friend.
https://pukeariki.com/libraries/summer-reading-programme
South Taranaki District Libraries
Summer Blast Reading Programme
9 December onwards
Enjoy all of the activities offered at each LibraryPlus throughout the summer and then be invited to attend a finale party where participants will receive a book to keep. Go and see all of the LibraryPlus’ throughout the District as each one has a different book-inspired theme.
https://www.southtaranaki.com/our-facilities/libraryplus/summer-blast
Wellington
Kapiti Coast District Libraries
Te Whero Pānui Raumati
This summer, we challenge you to read as often and as many books as you can! Challenge open to 5–13 year-olds. Each day of summer we challenge you to read something you enjoy and join us at our summer reading events. At the end of the day, if you have read for at least 15 minutes, colour in the next number. You can only colour in one number each day.
Upper and Lower Hutt Libraries
The Little, Big and Even Bigger Read
1 December – 31 January 2025
We are very excited to be once again teaming up with Hutt City Libraries to offer an amazing summer reading challenge to encourage tamariki to get excited about reading this summer, have fun playing, and be in to win cool prizes! Tamariki of all ages can pick up an age-appropriate journal for FREE from any of the eleven libraries in Upper Hutt or Lower Hutt from 1 December 2024.
We have three challenges: one for under 5s (The Little Read), two for primary-aged tamariki aged 5-12 (The Big Read), and one for teens (The Even Bigger Read).
https://www.upperhuttlibrary.co.nz/Programmes/Summer-Reading-Challenge
Wellington City Libraries
Summer Reading Adventure
25 November – 31 January 2025
You can read books; write, draw or film book reviews; and complete quests or activities to earn all kinds of awesome goodies – and you’ll still be home in time for tea! There are three versions of the Summer Reading Adventure for you to choose from:
- Summer Reading for Kids (ages 5-13)
- Summer Reading for Teens (ages 13-18)
- Summer Reading for Adults (ages 16+)
While all age groups are eligible for Grand Prizes, tamariki aged 5-13 can also earn small incentive rewards like pins, stationery, books, and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream vouchers for completing certain activities. When you have completed an activity that earns you a reward, you will get a notification letting you know to pick it up from your local library.
https://www.wcl.govt.nz/news/the-summer-reading-adventure-is-just-over-the-horizon
Nelson/Marlborough
Marlborough District Libraries
Teen Summer Book Bingo
16 December – 24 January 2025
To complete the Summer Reading Programme children (aged 5-12) need to read four books and complete two activities in the library between 16 December and 24 January. Children who complete the programme are awarded a prize and a certificate.
https://www.marlboroughlibraries.govt.nz/events?item=id:2o7w8xfaf1cxbytbzmum
Nelson Libraries
Nelson Reads Together
9 December – 12 February 2025
This year we’re encouraging people of all ages to pitch in to help us reach a community reading goal! Every page you log will help get us over the finish line! Your individual achievements will be woven together with others to help us unlock our reading target!
Register as an individual, group or sign up the whole whānau with Weekly Prize Draws for all participants.
Kids aged 5 – 12: once you have logged your pages and complete your badges, check in with us after Wednesday 15 January and receive a little reward!
https://www.nelsonpubliclibraries.co.nz/zsummer
West Coast
Westland District Library
Summer Reading Challenge
1 December – 31 January 2025
Splash into summer with our Beanstack Summer Reading Challenge!
Log the minutes you read and complete fun activities to earn badges throughout the challenge. Complete the challenge to be in the draw to win prizes! Ages 5-13 years.
https://westlib.co.nz/what-s-on/reading-challenges/
Grey District Library
Summer Reading Challenge
Now – 7 February 2025
Challenges for ages 5-19. Collect the Reading Points and Activity Points for each challenge. By completing all 4 Challenges, you will have read almost everyday during the summer holidays, and you will go in the draw for the Big Prize!
https://westlib.co.nz/what-s-on/reading-challenges/
Canterbury
Waimakariri Libraries
Summer Reading Challenge
5 December – 26 January 2025
Collect your Summer Reading Passport from your local library and join our frequent reader scheme. Complete the challenges in your passport and go in the draw to win some fabulous prizes!
https://waimakaririlibraries.com/about/library-news/2024/summer-reading-challenge-202425
Christchurch City Council Libraries
Summertime Reading Challenge
1 December – 31 January 2025
You can complete the challenges in so many different ways – from writing a letter to a friend, to reading by torchlight, and so many more! Find exciting reads, eBooks, audiobooks and magazines at our libraries to help you on your quest.
Ashburton Library
1 December – 31 January 2025
Riff-Raff’s Summer Reading Challenge
For ages 5-12. Rocket into Ashburton Library for your summer reading adventure and you could win one of ten $25 Whitcoulls vouchers! Earn progress rewards at key points along the reading track and complete fun bonus challenges to get an extra entry into the big prize draw! Bring your completed reading track into the library before 22 January to enter the draw and claim your progress rewards.
Be a Blockhead
For ages 13-18. Have a bricktacular summer and enter the draw for a Dancing Groot Lego kit with our Summer Reading Challenge. It’s easy! Complete the four challenges once and score a chocolate fish. Complete them twice and go into the prize draw! Bring your completed challenge form into the library before 24 January to enter the draw and claim your choccy fish.
https://www.ashburtondc.govt.nz/community-facilities/library/summer-reading-competitions
Otago
Waitaki District Libraries
Summer Reading Adventure
9 December – 25 January 2025
Grab an adventure pack from your local Waitaki District Library from the 9th of December, fill in the reading log when you finish a book, and return your reading log back to the library no later than the 25th of January 2025 for your chance to win a prize pack. Summer reading is open to all children and teens of school age.
https://www.waitaki.govt.nz/Libraries/Events-Activities/Summer-Reading-2024
Central Otago Libraries
The Tiki Tour Reading Challenge
9 December – 7 February 2025
Every time you read or do a reading activity, colour in a square on the Tiki Tour map. Bring your completed form back to the library to receive your book prize. Entries will be accepted from January 15 2025 to the closing date 7 February 2025.
https://libraries.codc.govt.nz/whats-on?item=id:2sfg3vys417q9s8159xv&ref=2024-12-08T11:00:00Z
Queenstown Lakes Libraries
Charm Quest – Seek the Magic
1 December – 1 February 2025
Join our libraries on the magical quest, where books are the key adventure. For every five books read, participants will earn a special charm* – the more you read, the more charms you collect! For Primary and Secondary aged children.
https://qldclibraries.govt.nz/blogs/2024/december/20242025-summer-reading-challenge
Dunedin Public Libraries
City of Readers
1 December – 2 February 2025
Registrations are now open for our City of Reader’s Summer Reading Programme for Years 1-8. Sign up online or at your local library and pick up your Summer Reading pack. You’ll get a booklet full of activities and challenges as well as plenty of space to write down all the things you’ve read over summer. There are plenty of opportunities to enter into the draw for some cool prizes, and all readers who get their booklet signed off by a librarian by the 2nd February get a final entry into the prize draw.
Southland
Clutha District Council Libraries
Legends of the Clutha
16 December – 7 January 2025
Mix the adventure of reading with the collection of trading cards that are designed around Clutha’s legends and stories. Head along to any one of our five libraries from the 16th of December to register and collect your first card.
https://libraries.cluthadc.govt.nz/programmes/events?item
Invercargill City Libraries
Summer Reading Bookopoly Challenge
1 December – 31 January 2025
Read your way around the board to complete challenges, enter prize draws and earn a free book! This year the Invercargill Licensing Trust (ILT) is sponsoring us to fund book prizes so each child or teen who completes the Reading Challenge can pick a free book to keep!
