Changing lives through books

Media release: March 8, 2011

Changing lives through books

This month more New Zealanders than ever before will be able to buy a book for as little as five dollars – thanks to a promotion by New Zealand Book Month designed to put books into the hands and homes of Kiwis.

Now in its sixth year, New Zealand Book Month has this year created a national book promotion that will see the book industry invest up to $20 million – depending on the level of voucher redemption – to promote reading and books to Kiwis.

In the last 7 days, 3.1 million vouchers worth $5 each have been distributed: into the letterboxes of 1 million homes, into the hands of 750,000 children via their schools, and a further 360,000 distributed via the Sunday Star-Times.

Over the coming weeks, a further 560,000 vouchers will be included in BNZ bank and credit card statements, and 160,000 vouchers are available for collection from BNZ and Caltex locations throughout the country.

244,000 vouchers destined for homes in Christchurch are being held at present. Project director Nikki Crowther said that New Zealand Book Month would take advice from the Christchurch community, and that discussions were currently underway with publishers and booksellers to establish how Christchurch residents could have an opportunity to receive and redeem vouchers at a later date.

The New Zealand Book Month campaign is being promoted in recognition that ‘Books Change Lives’. Film-maker Sir Peter Jackson, journalist and producer Carol Hirschfeld, cricketer Stephen Fleming and author Emily Perkins feature in the promotion.

Ms Crowther says considerable research now exists to show that book ownership and reading for pleasure is a significant factor in positive education outcomes for children.

“American research shows that children growing up in homes with books get three years more schooling than children from bookless homes, irrespective of their parents’ education, occupation and class,” she said.

Vouchers can be redeemed – during March 2011 – at more than 80% of New Zealand book shops on the purchase of any book priced at $10 or more. Participating booksellers can be found via the New Zealand Book Month website www.nzbookmonth.co.nz. Most major book sellers and many independent book stores are participating and all will display a New Zealand Book Month ‘Books Change Lives’ logo.

In addition to the book voucher promotion, New Zealand Book Month will feature more than 200 events across the country promoting New Zealand books and writing and celebrating the vital role of books in the lives of Kiwis. A full events listing, by region, can be found at www.nzbookmonth.co.nz.

Ms Crowther said the campaign had been made possible by the commitment and generosity of the book industry as well as a great many sponsors united by a desire to promote reading and to make books accessible to those who might not ordinarily read or own a book.

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