The Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador is a national role supporting and championing the importance of reading in the lives of young New Zealanders, their whānau and communities. Appointed by the National Library of New Zealand in partnership with key sector organisations, each ambassador serves a two-year term promoting reading for pleasure and helping to grow a nation of readers.
Kate De Goldi — Current Te Awhi Rito (2025–2027)
Award-winning author, broadcaster and educator Kate De Goldi is the third and current Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador. Appointed in June 2025, Kate brings decades of experience in storytelling and literacy advocacy to the role.
She says, “It seems more vital than ever before that a multitude of voices advocate for our young people, and their communities, why reading matters—and the crucial benefits of reading for pleasure on education, lifelong joy and learning.” Her term promises to build on the legacy of Ben and Alan, continuing to champion books and reading throughout Aotearoa.
Alan Dingley — Second Te Awhi Rito (2023–2025)
In March 2023, the role passed to Alan Dingley, a school librarian from Palmerston North Intermediate and a tireless champion for young readers.
Alan brought infectious energy and a deep belief in the transformative power of books, often saying, “A good book is either a doorway or a mirror. You can see yourself in it, or you can escape into it.”
Over two years, Alan reached nearly 20,000 young readers through school visits and events nationwide.
His ability to connect young people with just the right book, and to promote reading as a joyful and essential part of life, left a lasting impact.
In May 2025, Alan passed the harakeke taonga to the next ambassador in a special event hosted by the National Library.
Ben Brown — Inaugural Te Awhi Rito (2021–2023)
Writer and storyteller Ben Brown (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Koroki, Ngāti Paoa) was appointed as the first Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador in May 2021. A gifted orator and passionate advocate for the power of story, Ben spent his two-year term inspiring tamariki and rangatahi across Aotearoa.
In 2022, Ben’s tauparapara – created to reflect his philosophy of the deep connection between stories and reading – featured in a national poster campaign across Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, thanks to Phantom Billstickers.
That same year, he joined fellow authors on the Storylines Story Tour of Northland, engaging directly with young readers and their communities.
Ben’s mahi was also spotlighted through the launch of the Te Awhi Rito website, a platform for sharing ambassador activities and reading initiatives.
Reflecting on his term, author Kate De Goldi described Ben as “a man of huge heart, deep thought, and astonishing mahi… it seems to me now that our first Te Awhi Rito could have only been Ben.”
The Partners
Storylines is one of the founding partners in this initiative to engage more New Zealanders with books and reading. The initiative is led by Te Puna Mātuaranga National Library of New Zealand, alongside Te Puna Foundation, Creative New Zealand, Read New Zealand Te Pou Muramura and Storylines. Funding for the role has been provided by Te Puna Foundation for the first three years, though it is anticipated that this will be an enduring programme.
The Role
Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Reading Ambassador champions the importance of reading in the lives of all young New Zealanders. The position is conceived as a national reading role model, building visibility and awareness of reading across all sectors in Aotearoa New Zealand and helping to create a nation of readers.
Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador will also build the appreciation and growth of stories and literature that reflect Aotearoa New Zealand, including increased creation of and access to reading resources in te reo Māori and the diverse languages and cultures of Aotearoa.
Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Reading Ambassador will advocate for and champion the importance of reading in the lives of young New Zealanders, their whānau, and communities. They will also make connections between the many organisations involved in reading, literacy, literature and the wellbeing of young people.
For more information about the role of Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Reading Ambassador, follow this link.
Te Awhi Rito is appointed part time for two years. The details of the programme they will undertake is determined by the strengths and interests of Te Awhi Rito, working with the partner group, which will provide support to the appointee.
Appointment to the position is by nomination. A selection panel of up to eight people, including representatives of the founding partner group, will make the final decision.
The establishment of a high-profile national voice for reading and literacy is something Storylines has worked for and dreamed of for many years. We are delighted to be working with National Library, Te Puna Foundation, Creative New Zealand and Te Pou Muramura Read NZ to bring the dream to reality.
Background
The name Te Awhi Rito comes from the harakeke or flax plant. The ‘rito’ is the young shoot at the centre of the plant, and ‘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, supporting the entire harakeke bush and eventually becoming part of the fertile ground beneath. The harakeke is sometimes used as a metaphor for the generations in a family with te Awhi Rito as parents, connecting the young people or rito in the centre of the bush to their grandparents or tūpuna. Te Awhi Rito represents this role in nurturing and inspiring the rito who are the young readers and new readers. The tūpuna represent the many organisations, authors, teachers, libraries and other advocates for reading in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Over time, each Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Reading Ambassador will add their mana and mahi to strengthen the whole harakeke or he pā rito.