Summer Reading Programme
Summer Reading Programme a roaring success!
More than 100 kids in Taupō and Tūrangi completed the challenge, and everyone who finished received a certificate and a $15 book voucher. Running from 8 December to 19 January, tamariki aged 5 to 12 dived into their favourite books and checked in each week to share their reading adventures with our library team.
Calling all young readers
Pack your curiosity and head to the library – the Summer Reading Programme is back and bursting with adventures, activities, and prizes!
Running from Monday 8 December to Friday 19 January, this year’s theme is Te Ngāhere – The Forest, and it’s open to children aged 5–12 years.
Key things to know
Here's the key things to know about the Summer Reading Programme:
- Dates: Monday 8 December 2025 to Friday 19 January 2026
- Ages: 5 - 12 years*
- Goal: Read books! Make 4 check‑ins + earn 4 Te Ngāhere stickers
- Prizes: Choose your draw; earn up to 4 tickets; one prize per participant
- Finishers’ party: Te Ngāhere shindig
*The programme is open to children aged 5-12 years who are either Taupō District residents or are the children of non-resident Taupō District ratepayers. Participants or their parent/caregiver needs to be a member of Taupō District Libraries to register. 4 year olds who are starting school in Term One, 2026 are able to register.
Registration
Registrations opened Monday 8 December – spaces are limited, so get in quick!
To register, children and their parents/caregivers should visit their local library. Participants will be given the summer reading programme booklet when they register with all the key information to guide them through the programme, including how to check in and complete the challenge.
Check-ins and prizes
Read some awesome library books and check in four times at your local library to tell us about them. Each check-in earns a Te Ngāhere sticker for your booklet and moves your Kākāriki Tamariki character through the forest. Collect all four stickers to complete the challenge and go into the prize draw – you choose which prize you’d like to enter!
Complete the programme and you’ll automatically receive one prize entry ticket. You can earn up to three extra tickets by completing a book review, ticking off five Kākāriki Tamariki Tasks, and joining a library or museum event. That’s a maximum of four tickets to split across different prizes or stack on one to boost your chances. Every finisher also gets a Kākāriki Tamariki Champion certificate and a $15 Paper Plus/Whitcoulls voucher!
Check-in times vary by location, and email check-ins are welcome any time (one per day). For details, contact taupolibrary@taupo.govt.nz or turanglibrary@taupo.govt.nz.
Summer is made for stories, so pop in, collect your stickers, grab your tickets, and join us for the shindig.
Finishers' Party
All Summer Reading Programme finishers are invited to our Te Ngāhere shindig celebrations:
- Mangakino Library - Tuesday 20 January 2026
- Taupō and Tūrangi Libraries - Wednesday 21 January 2026