The Storylines Festival of New Zealand Children's Writers and Illustrators has been a highlight of the New Zealand literary calendar for more than two decades. This national festival – particularly the Free Family Days around the country – was established to bring children together with their favourite authors, illustrators, storytellers and performers, all bringing New Zealand books to life.

2016 Storylines Festival, 20-28 August 2016.

Join us in your area for one or more of the 2016 events:

Family Days

•  South Auckland Family Day, Saturday 20 August, Mangere Arts Centre. Meet Award-winning authors, including the 2016 Margaret Mahy Medal winner, Barbara Else, and hear performers including Pacifica Mamas and Apirana Taylor.
•  Auckland Family Day, Sunday 21 August, Aotea Centre.. Celebrate Joy Cowley's 80th birthday with her, and meet New Zealand and international guests (including Leigh Hobbs, (Australian Children's Laureate) visiting Auckland as part of the IBBY International Congress. Plus performances including Tim Bray Production's performance of Witi Ihimaera's The Whale Rider.
•  Northland Family Day, Saturday 27 August. Te Ahu and Kaitaia Library, Kaitaia. Tim Tipene and Maria Gill join other authors and storytellers to round out the Northland Story Tour  at the Northland Family Day.
•  Wellington Family Day, Saturday 27 August, Michael Fowler Centre. Mandy Hager, Glyn Harper and Ruth Paul  are included in an exciting line-up of writers and illustrators, with storytellers and performances throughout the day.
•  Dunedin Family Day, Saturday 27 August, Dunedin City Library. Leonie Agnew, Fifi Colston and GIllian Candler head south to join Otago-based writers and illustrators and performers.
•  Christchurch Family Day, Sunday 28 August, Upper Riccarton Library. Fifi, Leonie and GIllian move north to Christchurch, where they are joined by other writers, illustrators, a storyteller and a performance poet.

Thanks to our Storylines Festival Funders and Sponsors:

Principal Funders
Major Funders & Sponsors
Funders
		http://www.ratafoundation.org.nz

Sponsors
Publishers
Wendy Pye
Cleanslate Press		Upstart Magazine (Syrup Creative)
Bookshops
	Paper Plus Glenfield
	Take Note Mairangi Bay

Volunteers needed.

Volunteers and committee members wanted. We need your help!
 Storylines can only achieve what it does, nationally reaching out to thousands of New Zealand children and their families, with the help of its dedicated body of volunteers.  Join us to encourage New Zealand children and young adults engage with books, and help make our events and activities a success.
 
For a day's commitment, or perhaps several weeks' helping with planning and organisation, the rewards are considerable: meeting top authors, illustrators and storytellers, meeting kindred spirits who love children’s books. And of course, the greatest reward of the smiles on the faces of the children. Some of the roles we need help with are:

• volunteers to be responsible for specific areas
• help with NZ book-related art and craft activities 
• face painters 
• minders for authors and illustrators
• minders to help with school groups
• general floor duty, answering questions, giving directions 
• catering – helping with tea, coffee, lunches etc
• floor managers
• stage managers
• help setting up
• help packing up
• help for art and craft activities and more…

• Kay Mercer, Dunedin – DunedinFestival@storylines.org.nz
• Helen Mongillo, Christchurch – ChristchurchFestival@storylines.org.nz
• Cordelia Black, Wellington – WellingtonFestival@storylines.org.nz
• Helen Yuretich, Kaitaia, Northland – NorthlandFestival@storylines.org.nz
• Jodie Chapell, Auckland – AucklandFestival@storylines.org.nz
• Marisa Pene, South Auckland – SthAkldFestival@storylines.org.nz

Storylines Story Tour

Storylines Family Day Self-Published Zone

Want to tell our audience and their families about your book in person?  Storylines Family Days have traditionally featured local booksellers who bring in a wide range of New Zealand trade books for sale.  In 2016 Storylines Family Days feature a new  Self-Published Zone is in response to the growth of this part of the industry. It aims to be fair to both booksellers and to authors and illustrators wishing to promote and sell their own publications.   Please read the full guidelines here.

More information about the Storylines Festival and contacts:

• To find out more about the Festival, email the Storylines Events Manager, Vicki Cunningham.
• To enquire about help with funding or sponsorship, email the Storylines Executive Officer, Gillian Wess. 
• For information on how to help as a volunteer, visit the volunteers’ page.
• For information on the Festival's history, visit the history page  
• Read the latest media update here.

Festival Reports

Read the full Festival Reports, detailing activities held throughout New Zealand.
2012 Festival Report.
2011 Festival Report.
2010 Festival Report.
2009 Festival Report.