Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Reading Ambassador
Find out about the new role of Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Reading Ambassador for children and young people. The current Reading Ambassador is Alan Dingley whose term ends May 2025.
Alan Dingley current Te Awhi Rito
Born in Christchurch, and raised in Hawke’s Bay, Alan Dingley is the current Te Awhi Rito NZ Reading Ambassador.
Alan has over 25 years of experience working with children and young people, almost 20 of those in school and public libraries. He is currently Community Librarian at Te Patikitiki Highbury Library in Palmerston North.
Alan Dingley, Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Reading Ambassador.
He has a deep knowledge of New Zealand children’s and young adult (YA) literature. In 2020 he was on the judging panel for the Children’s and Young Peoples Book Awards NZCYA), then Convenor of Judges in 2021.
He also teaches drama and performs with SpontaneoUS Improv group in Palmerston North and is into his 4th decade of playing football.
He is a lucky Dad to two gorgeous children, Sam and George, a dog called Chaos, two budgies, one axolotl, and two rats.
Alan succeeds Ben Brown (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Koroki, Ngāti Paoa).
Read more about the new national Reading Ambassador
Ben Brown former Te Awhi Rito
Ben Brown (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Koroki, Ngāti Paoa) was the inaugural Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Reading Ambassador. He writes children's books, non-fiction, poetry and short stories for children and adults. Born in Motueka (1962), the father of two has been a tobacco farm labourer, tractor driver and market gardener.
Since 1992, he has been a publisher and writer, collaborating with the illustrator, Helen Taylor, in most of his 17 publications. Ben is a regular in the Read NZ Te Pou Muramura's Writers in Schools programme.
Te Awhi Rito website
Visit the Te Awhi Rito website, read blog posts by the current and former Te Awhi Rito and related news and events.
About the Te Awhi Rito role
Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Reading Ambassador advocates for and champions the importance of reading in the lives of young New Zealanders, their whānau, and communities. As a national reading role model, they build visibility and awareness of reading across all sectors in Aotearoa New Zealand, helping to create a nation of readers. Across time, each Te Awhi Rito will bring their own strengths to the role.
Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Reading Ambassador role exists to:
inspire, empower and mobilise powerful, positive reading experiences for children, young people, whānau, and communities in Aotearoa New Zealand
deliver and support reading programmes and events, including those underway in the National Library and with other partnerships and organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand
work with and make connections between the many organisations involved in reading, literacy, literature, and the wellbeing of young people and their whānau
build appreciation of, access to, and growth of stories and literature that reflect Aotearoa New Zealand, including in te reo Māori and the diverse languages and cultures of Aotearoa.
connect and work with the network of reading ambassadors and children’s laureates across the globe.
Te Awhi Rito is appointed for a two-year term. They are provided with a stipend and operational expenses are funded separately. The National Library provides ongoing coordination and support, and Te Puna Foundation, the fund-raising body for the National Library, provides funding for the role.
Te Awhi Rito partner group
The National Library of New Zealand leads the Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador initiative in collaboration with four foundation partners: Te Puna Foundation; Read New Zealand Te Pou Muramura; Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa; and Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust Te Whare Waituhi Tamariki o Aotearoa.
The Partner Group promotes and supports the effective establishment and delivery of the Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador initiative. They will provide ongoing advice and support to the Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador and steer the development of the programme of activities.
The name Te Awhi Rito
The name Te Awhi Rito comes from the harakeke or flax plant. The ‘Rito’ is the young shoot at the centre of the plant. ‘Awhi Rito’ are the strong, mature leaves that stand straight and tall to surround, protect and nurture the Rito. Outside Te Awhi Rito are the ‘Tupuna’ or older leaves that bend towards the ground. These support the entire harakeke bush and eventually become part of the fertile ground beneath.
The harakeke is sometimes used as a metaphor for generations in a family. Te Awhi Rito are parents, connecting the young people or Rito in the centre of the bush to their grandparents or Tupuna.
Te Awhi Rito is not a direct translation for Reading Ambassador but represents this role in nurturing and inspiring the Rito — the young and new readers. The Tupuna represent the many organisations, authors, teachers, libraries and other advocates for reading in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Over time, each Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador will add their mana and mahi to strengthen the whole harakeke or He Pā Rito.
Te Awhi Rito programme and activities
The programme and activities for Te Awhi Rito include:
engagement with young people in schools and other settings, and with whānau and community
engagement with libraries and the literature and education sectors
contribute to Te Awhi Rito online presence
media, conference and workshop presentations
collaborate with Te Awhi Rito partner organisations.
Criteria and eligibility
Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassor will:
be a passionate and knowledgeable reader who is dedicated to fostering reading for pleasure
be an eloquent and engaging communicator, with a known ability to relate to children and young people
have an understanding of and be committed to Māori and Pasifika cultures, and the diverse voices and languages of Aotearoa New Zealand
be confident and experienced communicating in a wide range of public environments and media
have earned the recognition and respect of their sector and community or have the potential to make a substantial contribution to reading culture in New Zealand.
In addition, they must:
be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident and residing in New Zealand during the period of tenure, and
have the time and capacity to inhabit this role.
Terms and conditions
Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador will be appointed for a two-year term, commencing in mid-2023 at a time to be negotiated. The commitment will be-part time — equivalent to approximately 2 to 3 days per week across the 2-year period.
Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador will be given a stipend of $50,000 per annum. Operational requirements will be funded separately. The National LIbrary of New Zealand will provide ongoing coordination and support.
Nomination and selection
Nominations for this role have closed.
Contact us
If you have any questions email us at reading-ambassador@dia.govt.nz
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