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
Whangarei District Libraries
The Great Summer Challenge
15 December - 5 January 2024
Read every day during the holidays and complete fun challenges by yourself or with family and friends. There are great prizes to be won with every challenge!
- Reading and challenges for all ages
- You decide how much, what and when you’d like to read
- Complete challenges and be in to win!
https://www.wdc.govt.nz/library/Whats-on/Events/Great-summer-challenge
Auckland
Auckland Libraries
Raumati Reads
11 December - 21 January 2024
Come join us for Raumati Reads - Kiwiana Summer Reading Programme! Take home an activity kit from December 11th.
Earn stickers and badges as you complete the reading challenges, and complete five activities to be in to win the grand prize at the end of the holidays!
https://www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Pages/school-holidays.aspx
Waikato
Hamilton City Libraries
One World, Many Stories
18 December 2023 onwards
This year's theme is "One World, Many Stories." Our libraries will take you around the world without having to leave Hamilton.
You can visit Spain, Scotland, Brazil, China, Japan, Italy and Egypt, all within roughly half an hour of each other. How exciting!
Tamariki can enrol for our Summer Reading Programme by getting a booklet from their local library OR they can register online via Beanstack, which can be used to track independent reading time and books.
Matamata-Piako Libraries
Read Beyond the Beaten Path
1 December - 27 January 2024
Everyone in our district can participate in our reading challenges. To participate, download the Beanstack app to track your reading over summer and throughout the year. This year we have separate challenges for each age group.
https://matamatapiakolibraries.co.nz/whats-on/summer-reading-challenge
Waipā District Libraries
Kids Summer Reading Feast
11 December - 24 January 2024
Learn to love reading! Practice your reading over the holidays. Enjoy story sessions at each library. Try an online challenge. You can collect your challenge cards from the libraries. If you come in to the library with your completed challenges, you will receive a small gift for each of the first three you do. When you have completed three challenges of your choice you will be invited to a finale party at your local library. For ages 5-12 years.
https://www.waipalibraries.org.nz/events/kids-summer-reading-fest/278
Bay of Plenty
Tauranga City Libraries
15 December - 29 January 2024
Kia Kaha te Pānui - Summer Reading Challenge
With 3 challenges, one for our mini readers aged 0-4, one for readers aged 5-10 and one for our tween/teen readers aged 11-18, there is a challenge to keep everyone reading this summer.
For each of the challenges, participants read books (or have them read to them) then come into the library to tell us about them. We give them a secret code word that they log into our beanstack app. Once they have done this 3 times, they win a prize!
https://library.tauranga.govt.nz/whats-on/event-details/eid/7188/tctl/17044
Central North Island
Taupō District Libraries
The Fantastical Fantasy Feat
1 December - 31 January 2024
Step into a world of books and embark on this Summer Reading Programme at Taupō District Libraries! As you journey through this literary odyssey, you'll have the chance to win magnificent prizes. Visit your local library in Tūrangi, Mangakino or Taupō to collect the secret code that awaits you. Once collected, register through Beanstack App or collect a booklet. Ask a librarian, to help you navigate your way should you need it.
https://www.taupodc.govt.nz/community/libraries/kids/summer-reading-programme
Ruapehu District Libraries
Get wild with Nature
11 December - 19 January 2024
Get reading and win prizes! Register and collect activity packs from the library. Suitable for ages 6-12.
https://www.ruapehudc.govt.nz/our-facilities/libraries/summer-reading-programme
East Cape
HB Williams Memorial Library
Kiwiana Summer Reading Challenge
18 December - 21 January 2024
Read for two hours and go in the draw to win one of four mystery prizes. For 0-18 years. Print the Kiwiana Reading Challenge booklet or pick up one from the Library. Completed booklets can be uploaded once the challenge starts on December 18.
https://www.waitaki.govt.nz/Libraries/Events-Activities/Reading-Brings-us-Together
Hawkes Bay
Hastings Libraries
4 December - 28 January 2024
Summer Sparks
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/
Manawatu
Manawatu Distric Libraries
Readopoly Summer Reading Challenge
18 December - 17 January 2024
Our reading challenge is a fantastic way to encourage reading over the summer holidays, that kids will love. Parents / Guardians can register a child’s interest and we will contact everyone registered when the game set with board, tokens and dice are ready for pick up from Monday the 18th of December 2023. We have a limited supply so make sure you register your interest. Prize winners will be notified on Tuesday 23rd January 2024.
https://www.feildinglibrary.co.nz/whats-on/holiday-fun/readopoly-summer-reading-challenge
Palmerston North City Library
Summer Reading 2023
4 December - 25 January 2024
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. This year there are also optional virtual badges which will earn entries into our Choose Your Adventure mystery pack draws as well.
Taranaki
Puke Ariki
Summer Reading Programme
17 December - 27 January 2024
Blast into READING! Puke Ariki and Community Libraries are giving away weekly prizes during our summer reading programme “Blast into Reading” where we're encouraging kids to keep up their reading over the school holidays. Registered children will receive a Summer Reading Booklet to help them check in each week at their local library and track their summer reading progress. Prizes up for grabs include vouchers for local book shops and some surprise Grand Prizes that will be handed out at the end of the promotion period.
https://pukeariki.com/libraries/programmes-and-activities/summer-reading-programme/
South Taranaki District Libraries
Summer Blast Reading Programme
5 December onwards
https://www.southtaranaki.com/our-facilities/libraryplus/summer-blast
Wellington
Kapiti Coast District Libraries
Te Whero Pānui Raumati
4 December - 28 January 2024
Kāpiti Kids Summer Reading Challenge! Each day of summer, we challenge you to read something you enjoy OR complete one of the challenges on the sheet. At the end of the day, if you have read for at least 15 minutes OR completed a challenge, colour in one of the suns. You can only colour in one sun each day. Complete 10 suns and win a prize. Challenge available to 5 to 13-year-olds.
https://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/libraries/services/childrens/summer-reading-challenge
Upper and Lower Hutt Libraries
The Little, Big and Even Bigger Read
1 December - 31 January 2024
We are very excited to be joining 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. We have three challenges, one for under 5s (The Little Read), one 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
1 December - 31 January 2024
Read books, explore the city, win prizes with our Summer Reading Adventure. This year we are inviting intrepid explorers of word and page of all ages to join us — children, teens, and adults!
https://www.wcl.govt.nz/popular/summer-reading.html
Nelson/Marlborough
Marlborough District Libraries
Teen Summer Book Bingo
15 December 2023 onwards
The Teen Library Lounge Summer Book Bingo is a fun and free summer reading challenge for Library users aged 13-18. Challenge yourself to read something new while completing a book themed bingo sheet. Get BINGO (five in a row) to win prize, get a full house (the whole sheet) to go in the draw for a book voucher.
https://www.marlboroughlibraries.govt.nz/events?item=id:2o9gk45311cxbys6p2pq
West Coast
Buller Libraries
Summer Reading Roadtrip
1 December onwards
Challenge yourself to a reading adventure, follow the map through the Buller region collecting stickers and spot prizes along the way!
Westland District Library
Summer Reading Challenge 2023
13 November - 1 February 2024
Dig into a good book this summer! Log the minutes you read and complete fun activities to earn badges throughout the summer holidays.
Complete the challenge to be in the draw to win prizes! Ages 5-13 years.
https://westlib.co.nz/what-s-on/reading-challenges/
Canterbury
Waimakariri Libraries
Summer Reading Challenge 2023
1 December - 26 January 2024
Pick up a challenge booklet and complete five fangtastic challenges and you could win one of three spooktacular prize packs!
There will be also runner up and spot prizes. Books can include print and eBooks/eAudiobooks.
https://waimakaririlibraries.com/about/library-news/2023/summer-reading-challenge-202324
Otago
Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes Libraries
Bookopoly Summer Reading Challenge 2023
1 November - 1 March 2024
Get ready to roll the dice on a literary adventure! Join our Bookopoly Summer Reading Challenge, pass GO, collect stickers and stories, and go in the draw to win prizes. Everyone is invited to participate - Kids, Teens, Adults, Groups, Families.
https://codc-qldc.govt.nz/whats-on/bookopoly-summer-reading-challenge-2023
Dunedin Public Libraries
City of Readers 2023
1 December - 31 January 2024
Sign up and pick up your Summer Reading pack. Set a goal and record in your activity booklet details of all the things you’ve read over summer. When you reach your goal get it signed off by a librarian by the 4th February.
Waitaki District Libraries
Reading Brings Us together
11 December - 22 January 2024
Children can collect an activity booklet and reading log. Returned reading logs give them an entry into the prize draw. We encourage children to read over the summer by themselves as well as with friends and family.
https://www.waitaki.govt.nz/Libraries/Events-Activities/Reading-Brings-us-Together
Southland
Clutha District Council Libraries
Finding Treasure
1 December - 31 January 2024
This year the theme is Finding Treasure! A fun take on the classic board game with plenty of plot twists! Open to Kids, Teens and Adults.
Invercargill City Libraries
The Great Escape Summer Reading Challenge
1 December - 31 January 2024
Join the Great Escape Summer Reading Challenge!
Calling all tamariki aged 12 and under! Join the Great Escape Summer Reading Challenge! Participate in the challenge by reading books and completing fun activities to earn entries for our awesome prize draws. Every tamariki who successfully completes the challenge will receive a brand new book to add to their own collection.
