Government brings reading home

For 17 years the Government has been adding to home libraries around the country thanks to its support of the Duffy Books in Homes programme.

In addition to their overall support of the programme, the Government, via the MoE, supplies a free brand new book of their choice to almost 100,000 primary and intermediate students in low decile schools each year.

The books are chosen from a catalogue, much like the Lucky Book Club, and schools invite Government representatives to present the books at a special assembly at the end of Term Two.

Last month, Members of Parliament, local body representatives and other civil servants are visited 522 schools throughout New Zealand to share their experiences of reading with children before helping to present their books.

Minister of Education, Hon Hekia Parata, is a long-time supporter of the programme.

“I fully support the Duffy programme and the wonderful work it is doing to support and encourage parents, families and whanau to become involved in their child’s reading,” she said.

Since the official launch in 1995 with 80 schools, 16,000 students and 14 sponsors, the Duffy Books in Homes programme has grown to encompass 522 schools, around 100,000 students and more than 200 sponsors in 2013. More than eight million books have been distributed to children in low-decile schools since its inception and the programme now distributes more than 600,000 books annually.