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Summer is here and Tauranga City Libraries has just the ticket to keep young readers busy and entertained over the holiday period! Our annual Kia Kaha te Pānui Reading Challenge is back, bigger, and better than ever.
With awesome prizes up for grabs, free craft activities, and the return of the programme’s legendary finale parties, Kia Kaha te Pānui is not to be missed.
Children & Teens Programme Specialist, Lauren Jones, says the challenge is all about participants having fun and feeling proud of achieving their reading goals. “We’re excited to be using the free app Beanstack this year,” says Lauren. “Beanstack provides a really fun and easy way to track your child’s reading, plus keep our young readers motivated. The app awards virtual badges to readers throughout
the challenge which are kind of like a digital fist-bump to say well done! Every reader who takes part also receives tickets to enter into draws and win some cool rewards.”
There will be three catagories of Kia Kaha te Pānui this year:
• Mini Reads for ages 0-4
• Summer Reads for ages 5-10
• Teen Reads for ages 11-18.
Summer Reads, one of three reading programmes on offer, is aimed at primary school-aged children who are encouraged to read as often as possible, log their efforts in Beanstack, and visit the library to share what they’ve read with a librarian. “It’s not a test,” says Lauren. “We love hearing what children think about the books they’ve read, and rewarding them for making the effort to check in.
Summer sees the return of our flagship reading challenge: Kia Kaha te Pānui!
A jealous little sister ruins the perfect promotional photo.
A pretty good promotional photo.
Every child who checks in receives a swimming pool pass thanks to the generosity of Bay Venues and, once the visit is logged on Beanstack, they also receive tickets to enter into the prize draws. “Beanstack allows participants to choose which prize draws they want to enter to win and distribute the tickets they earn between different prize options,” says Lauren.
There will also be fun drop-in craft activities running several times a week at all four Tauranga City Libraries for the whole whānau to enjoy.
Kids who complete Kia Kaha te Pānui: Summer Reads also recieve an invitation to the finale party at Memorial Park, a prize book to keep, and a certificate.
For the first time ever, the challenge also extends to preschoolers, with the introduction of Kia Kaha te Pānui: Mini Reads. Mini Reads is a simplified version of the school-aged challenge, designed to include even the littlest of children in the fun. “You’re never too young to enjoy a great book, whether you’re able to read or just love being read to,” says Lauren.
And for teens aged 11-18 years old, Kia Kaha te Pānui: Teen Reads gives the opportunity to earn prizes such as vouchers, giant junk food hampers, drift kart passes and more, on top of a $20 Whitcoulls voucher they’ll get for completing the challenge.
To get started, grab your free Mini Reads, Summer Reads, or Teen Reads booklets from any Tauranga City Library, register for the challenge Beanstack, and get reading from Monday, 12 December. The challenge ends on Monday, 23 January.
Visit www.library.tauranga.govt.nz, or talk to a friendly staff member for more information.
News Bulletin
Christmas Holiday Closures
Merry Christmas and happy New Year from all of us at Tauranga City Libraries! Please note that we will be closed on the following days:
Saturday, 24 December Sunday, 25 December Monday, 26 December Tuesday, 27 December Saturday, 31 December Sunday, 1 January Monday, 2 January Tuesday, 3 January
Weekend Opening Hours Back to Normal
Good news: from Saturday, 3 December our weekend opening hours will return to 9:30am–4:00pm at all library branches.
We thank you for your understanding during the winter months.
Secret Santa Parcels
Our Secret Santa parcels are back! Borrow a mystery parcel from your library this December and discover a bunch of great, hand-picked reads that you may never have picked yourself!
Oh, and word on street suggests there may be something chocolate inside the parcels too …
New home for papers detailing Tauranga‘s past
Pages etched with Tauranga’s rich history have a new home and are again available for people to view, thanks to a partnership between The Elms Foundation and Tauranga City Libraries’ Heritage and Research team.
The partnership means over 700 historical documents owned by The Elms Foundation are now being kept at Tauranga City Libraries’ new archives facility in Mount Maunganui, giving people greater opportunities to view the collection of national significance – both in-person and, over time, online.
Some of the most valued items in the collection include the original handwritten land deed for the Te Papa block covering more than 1,000 acres of land from the mission station to Pukehinahina/ Gate Pā.
Other items include journals from the Church Missionary Society’s (CMS) Reverend Alfred Brown
covering the period between 1835 and 1847, correspondence between Reverend Brown and his family between 1828 and 1884, and Māori Baptism records from Matamata and Tauranga between 1838 and 1862.
There is also a rich collection of documents connected to the Maxwell family available to view. The Maxwell family, who inherited the land at Mission Street from Reverend Brown and the CMS, lived at the property from the late 19th century right up until the 1990s, making this collection a valuable social history record for Tauranga and the nation as a whole.
Up until five years ago, the collection was being stored at the now-demolished library building on Willow Street in Tauranga’s city centre. Following the discovery of leaks in the building, the collection was transferred to the Tauranga Heritage Collection facility in 2017, where it has safely remained until now.
Above: The Elms Foundation General Manager, Andrew Gregg and Māori Heritage Specialist, Elisha Rolleston in Tauranga City Libraries’ new climate-controlled archive facility.
The Elms Foundation General Manager, Andrew Gregg, says the Foundation is grateful for the collective care Tauranga City Council continues to show for this special collection of cultural heritage. “We are delighted that Tauranga City Libraries’ new climate-controlled archive facility can provide safe conditions to protect the taonga entrusted to The Elms Foundation in 1999, when the charitable trust was first formed,” says Andrew.
“This new home also means more people have the opportunity to access these documents and understand many of the important events in Tauranga’s history that have helped shape who we are today as a city and community.
“One such record that is very relevant at present, is the land agreement for the Te Papa block, which cemented a relationship between the Church Missionary Society and tangata whenua in 1838-39. This document represents a commitment to shared guardianship of the land in the heart of Tauranga city.
“It is the honouring of the true intent of this agreement that led to the recent decision to establish Te Manawataki o Te Papa Charitable Trust, that will see the civic precinct land in the city centre jointly owned by Council and Otamataha Trust.”
Māori Heritage Specialist at Tauranga City Libraries, Elisha Rolleston, says the Libraries’ Heritage and Research team is honoured to be looking after the collection on behalf of The Elms Foundation.
“We feel privileged to be acting as caretakers for these incredible taonga of Tauranga,” says Elisha. “They will be kept safe in our purposebuilt facility which is secure and keeps the temperature and humidity at levels that perfectly suits the safekeeping of these nationallysignificant documents.
“Over time, we also plan to digitise items from this collection on our online archive system Pae Korokī, so they can be accessible to the local, national and international community at the click of a button.”
Elisha says having digital access to the archives will also help to preserve the papers and manuscripts by removing unnecessary handling.
The Elms Foundation archives collection is available to view at Tauranga City Libraries’ archives facility by appointment only.
To request an appointment, please email research@tauranga.govt.nz
Some documents within The Elms Foundation collection, such as Te Papa land deed, and 15 of Reverend Alfred Brown’s journals from 1835-1847, are already able to be viewed at paekoroki.tauranga.govt.nz
Above: Inspecting some of the precious items within the collection.
Our favourite reads (and listens) of 2022
Books spotlighted aren’t always available for borrowing, but can be recommended for purchase at: www.library.tauranga.govt.nz/explore/ask-suggest-or-request. Albums spotlighted are available to borrow via hoopla.
Keen to talk books? We'd love for you to join us at one of these book clubs!
He Puna Manawa
3rd Wednesday of each month
10–11am & 5.30–6.30pm
Pāpāmoa Library
1st Thursday of each month 10.30-11.30am
Greerton Library
3rd Monday of each month 10.30–11.30am
Wild at Heart Book by Alienor le Gouvello
Against All Odds Book by Craig Challen and Richard Harris
Where the Crawdads Sing (soundtrack) Album by various
Paul Zara Tori
The Derry Girls (season 3) Series by Lisa McGee
Kirsten
Gracie Kayce Jody Joanna
A Man of Understanding Book by Diana Janney
Nina Simone's Gum Book by Warren Ellis
Soul Taken Novel by Patricia Briggs
Seven Album by Brooke Ligertwood
Trans Europe Express Album by Kraftwerk
Hanna Hanna
Santa’s bringing me a Kate Bush album on vinyl. I know this because my wife, I mean “Santa”, always hides presents in the weirdest places. Don’t get me wrong—I’m stoked! – Daniel
Kirsten Mishka Mishka Daniel Bitter Novel by Akwaeke Emezi
A Face Like
Glass Novel by Frances Hardinge
Open
Water Novel by Caleb Azumah Nelson
we want
Christmas: I
Daniel
And the Ass Saw the Angel Novel by Nick Cave I Kissed Shara Wheeler Novel by Casey McQuiston Invisible Women Book by Caroline Criado-Perez What
from
would love Santa to bring me a new air fryer, or a paddle board – Gracie
If Santa was to bring me a gift, I would ask for an e-bike or e-scooter to help me get to and from work – Kayce
From Santa I would like anything useful under the umbrella of “tramping gear” – Jody
Santa can bring me new togs – Joanna
Magic-speed reading glasses – Zara [Editor's Note: Yes please!]
Some new sports shoes – Hanna
Can Santa bring me more time? This year has flown! – Mishka [Editor's Note: If only! Also, try not to waste your Christmas wish next year—keep it practical.]
Fiona
The Doctor's Wife Novel by Fiona Sussman
10 Years of making children smile at Christmas
This Christmas season marks the 10th anniversary of the first Make a Child Smile campaign, a special collaboration between Mount Maunganui Lions and Tauranga City Libraries which has inspired thousands of gift donations from generous locals to those in need throughout our community.
Each year, the campaign seeks toy donations which are given out at a special dinner for local families in need. Families, identified with the help of Plunket, are invited to attend the dinner and each child is given a toy carefully selected for them.
“That’s why we generally request unwrapped gifts each year,” says Brenda Anderson of Mount Maunganui Lions. “Knowing exactly what has been donated helps us to make sure the gifts find their way to the right recipient.”
Amongst the many special experiences Brenda has had throughout her years organising the
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Right: Dinosaurs and Super Soakers are proving popular so far this Christmas.
campaign, one stands out as a pertinent example of matching gift to child. “I’ll never forget one 12-year-old boy whose Christmas wish was for both a skateboard and a permanent family to love him. On the night of the community dinner, hosted at the Arataki Community Centre, the boy indeed received the skateboard that he’d wished for, and his adoption to a wonderful foster family was confirmed.”
“I remember that story,” says Daniel Petersen, Marketing and Creative Coordinator for Tauranga City Libraries, “and I recognised the specific skateboard in question, one which was donated by a kind customer at Tauranga Library. The skateboard was obviously a small feature of a big moment, but to consider the small way that we all helped contribute to a child’s unforgettable Christmas moment overwhelmed me.”
The gifts make their way to a range of children and families in many different circumstances. While
Kelly Shepherd operates the front desk at He Puna Manawa and is loving seeing the generosity of visitors to the library.
some families are in tight financial situations which threaten to make their Christmases nonevents, others are comfortable financially, but experiencing immense medical challenges.
“I’ve had many humbling encounters with families throughout the years who don’t outwardly appear to be in need,” says Brenda, “I’d question to myself why Plunket had them on the gift list only to hear from them about their enormous struggles. Seeing how delighted they are to receive the gifts and getting to know their stories is very humbling”.
It’s because of these diverse family situations that members of the public are encouraged to think creatively about the things they donate. “We always strive to have everyone covered, so think books, movie vouchers for older kids, make-up kits, as well as the usual super soakers and Barbie dolls.”
Though this year’s cut off is 12 December, Daniel and Brenda feel it’s important to note that donations will be accepted well after that date. “As always, we won’t turn away gifts donated after the cut-off—they get happily stored away for a year, providing a good head start for next Christmas’s gift drive.”
We’re very excited to showcase our World Languages Collection held at He Puna Manawa and also share the news that world language titles are now available at Greerton and Pāpāmoa Library too! The collection began with a few adult titles on offer at Tauranga Library in 2019 and the interest in them has just grown.
The titles on offer are predominantly written by local authors and are being added to regularly. Adult languages available at He Puna Manawa are Afrikaans, Chinese Mandarin, Filipino, French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Punjabi, and Spanish. We will soon be getting titles in German and Italian. Greerton Library holds Afrikaans, Chinese Mandarin, Hindi, and Korean. Pāpāmoa Library holds Afrikaans, French, Punjabi, and Spanish.
We’ve also recently expanded the collection to include picture books, which can be found at He Puna Manawa and Pāpāmoa Library.
The languages will eventually include the same as the adult collection, along with Samoan and Tongan. Currently held at He Puna Manawa and Pāpāmoa Library, we plan to add this collection to the Greerton and Mount Maunganui Libraries in the near future.
Our collection of books in different languages grows!
