The post How Being a Duffy Role Model Changed Nora Swann’s Mornings appeared first on Duffy Books in Homes New Zealand.
]]>Nora Swann has spent 15 years running her own fashion business. Long before that, she was the kind of kid who kept things to herself.
Reading as a way in
“As an introvert I found that I tend to keep things on the inside,” Nora says. “So, reading has really helped me develop that.”
For Nora, books weren’t only something to read, they were somewhere to go. “I read because it helps me to broaden my communication,” she says. “It helps me to build my knowledge and the way I look at life, the way I process things.”
A different kind of reset
As a Duffy Role Model, Nora would start her mornings visiting Duffy schools, and she says it really helped set her day.
“As a business owner, you go through so many challenges. Being amongst the kids, really good energy, really happy. That helped me be in the right mindset before I went and had my business hat on.”
The assemblies became something she looked forward to. Some mornings, she needed that room as much as the kids needed to hear her story.
Why Role Models Matter
Every Duffy Role Model stands in front of tamariki as proof that reading can take you anywhere.
Our Role Models come from all walks of life, authors, community leaders, artists, musicians, scientists and more. What they share is a passion for reading and a love of learning that helped shape who they became. Now, they’re showing Duffy kids what worlds reading unlocked, and giving them a reason to dream even bigger.
The message is clear: read, then see where it can take you.
Watch Nora’s story
Hear Nora talk about what it was like to be a Duffy Role Model, her favourite book and why it’s important to read.
Be part of the next chapter
Reading has been a core part of Nora’s life. You can help create more passionate readers like this by becoming a Funding Partner, volunteering as a Duffy Role Model, or making a donation.
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]]>The post Most Popular Duffy Books Chosen by Students in Book Offer 3, 2026 appeared first on Duffy Books in Homes New Zealand.
]]>One of the most exciting moments in the Duffy calendar is Book Offer time.
Across Aotearoa, thousands of tamariki browse the latest Book Offer, compare favourites with their friends, and make one very important decision: which books they want to add to their own home library.
For many Duffy kids, these are books they get to take home, keep and read again and again. Giving tamariki the opportunity to choose books that genuinely interest them helps make reading something they can enjoy and feel excited about.
Book Offer 3 for 2026 once again showed just how varied those interests are, with humour, familiar characters, adventure, heartfelt stories and books in te reo Māori all among the most popular choices.
What were the most popular Duffy books in Book Offer 3?
Made for laughing out loud
Funny books continue to be popular with Duffy kids, showing that sometimes laughter is one of the easiest ways to get tamariki turning the page.
The most popular titles were:
- This Book Is Full of Bums
- Dare to Be Scared! (Pizza and Taco #7)
Familiar worlds, new adventure
Familiar characters and worlds give young readers an easy way into their next story, while still offering a brand-new adventure to discover.
The most popular choices were:
- Ash Wins It All (Pokémon: World Championship #3)
- Haunted House (Diary of a Roblox Pro: Book 9)
Stories with heart
These popular choices give readers memorable characters, relationships and stories they can connect with.
Their top selections were:
- The Little Ghost Who Lost Her Boo!
- Claudia and Mean Janine
Bigger adventures and higher stakes
For readers looking for something more intense, these titles show there is plenty of appetite for action, adventure and higher-stakes stories, these stories stood out:
- Grenade
- Into the Storm
Celebrating stories in te reo Māori
Books in te reo Māori give tamariki another opportunity to see and experience te reo through the stories they choose to read and take home.
The most popular selections were:
- The Wonky Donkey (Māori)
- Sun Shower / He Taru Kahikā (Māori)
Want to see what Duffy kids were reading earlier this year?
Take a look at the most popular books from Book Offer 1, 2026.
Why book choice matters
At Duffy Books in Homes, we know that creating readers starts with creating excitement about reading.
When tamariki can choose books that reflect their interests, hobbies, cultures and aspirations, reading becomes something they want to do rather than something they have to do.
Whether they choose something funny, adventurous, familiar or completely new, every book has the potential to create a connection between a child and reading.
And that connection can be the beginning of a lifelong love of books.
Thank you to our funding partners
Book Offers 1 and 3 are made possible through the generous support of our Funding Partners, who share the cost of books with schools across New Zealand.
Your support helps put high-quality books into the hands of children who may not otherwise have access to them. More importantly, it helps give tamariki the opportunity to choose books they are excited to read, building confidence, literacy skills, and a lifelong love of reading.
Every book chosen is another step towards a brighter future.
Thank you for helping make that possible.
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]]>The post Why Duffy Theatre Sticks With Kids Long After the Curtain Falls appeared first on Duffy Books in Homes New Zealand.
]]>Duffy Theatre has been touring New Zealand schools for more than 25 years. Two troupes crisscross the country each year, performing to Duffy schools nationwide. It’s one of the longest-running, and popular, aspects of the Duffy programme.
A story built by Duffy kids
Before a script is ever written, the Duffy Theatre team visits schools and workshops ideas directly with Duffy kids, what they’re into, what they’re dealing with, what’s actually on their minds that year. The show gets built around that.
That’s why it lands, it’s a story shaped by kids, for kids. And it turns reading from an abstract idea into something that feels real and the lives and experiences characters have feel achievable.
Caleb Teaupa remembers exactly what that felt like from the audience, long before he ever joined the cast. He was a Duffy kid in Wellsford, sitting in a hall just like this one. “I remember loving the Duffy shows. The best part,” he says. Read his full journey, from Duffy kid to Duffy Theatre, to see where that feeling took him.
The link back to the books
Duffy Theatre is built to connect straight back to what the programme is actually about: gifting kids’ books to own and encouraging them to want to read for pleasure.
A show that makes a story feel exciting does the same job a good book does, it makes a child want to know what happens next. That’s the whole loop Duffy is built around. A book a child chooses, owns, and wants to come back to. Again and again.
Caleb put it simply: reading, for him, is tied to comprehension, to critical thinking, to understanding why a story is told the way it is. Those are the same skills Duffy Theatre is quietly building in every Duffy kid watching from the floor of the hall, well before they’re old enough to notice it’s happening.
Be part of the next chapter
Every Duffy Theatre show plants a seed. For some kids, it’s just a fun afternoon. For others, like Caleb, it’s the start of something much bigger.
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]]>The post From Duffy Kid to Duffy Theatre: Caleb Teaupa’s Journey appeared first on Duffy Books in Homes New Zealand.
]]>Every Duffy kid has a favourite part of the school year. For Caleb Teaupa, growing up in Wellsford, it was always the same one “I remember loving the Duffy shows.”
He remembers the excitement of sitting down with his friends to watch the show. He didn’t know it then, but that feeling would end up shaping where his own story went.
A full circle moment
Caleb finished training at Toi Whakaāri and the first job he landed was with Duffy Theatre.
The same show he grew up watching. This time, he was in it.
“(It was a) full circle moment being Duffy,” he says.
Caleb spent the year touring the country, performing for children in the same halls he once sat in himself. “I got to travel the country and perform for children, just like myself when I was a little boy. So yeah, it was very special, very special.”
Reading never left the stage
Ask Caleb what reading has to do with acting, and he doesn’t hesitate.
“Being an actor, reading is extremely important.”
Every script he’s handed must be read, then read again. Understanding a character means understanding why a line is written the way it is, what it means for the story, and what it means for his performance. It’s comprehension and critical thinking, the same skills tamariki are building every time they open a book in class.
And memorising a script isn’t only about repetition. Caleb talks about getting outside, moving through different environments, feeling the words in his body as much as his head. It’s the same instinct Duffy Theatre is built on: stories land harder when you don’t just read them, you experience them.
What’s at stake
Reading isn’t an extra for Caleb and he is direct about what happens when kids don’t get that chance.
“It breaks my heart. It makes it a lot harder for them to get by.”
Reading is tied to basic life skills, the ones adults rely on every day without thinking, from an email to a script. For Caleb, Duffy Theatre is one of the ways tamariki get to see that stories matter.
Watch Caleb’s story
Hear Caleb talk about growing up a Duffy kid in Wellsford, what it felt like stepping into the same show that shaped him, and why he believes reading opens doors long before anyone realises it.
Be part of the next chapter
Caleb’s story started the same way every Duffy kid’s does, with a book, and a show, that made reading feel like something worth showing up for.
You can help create more moments like this by supporting a school, volunteering as a Duffy Role Model, or making a donation.
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]]>The post From Reluctant Reader to Storyteller: John Pulu’s Journey appeared first on Duffy Books in Homes New Zealand.
]]>Not every child who receives a Duffy book is an avid reader.
Some need a little more time to discover the joy of stories.
That’s what makes John Pulu‘s story so inspiring.
Growing up, John received books through the Duffy Books in Homes programme. Like many children, reading wasn’t something he naturally gravitated towards. But those books became part of his childhood, and some remain on his bookshelf today as a reminder of where his own story began.
Today, John has built a career around storytelling.
As an actor, writer, director, and filmmaker, he brings stories to life on screen, creating work that reflects New Zealand’s diverse communities and celebrates Pasifika voices. His career spans film, television, theatre, and digital media, where he continues to inspire audiences through powerful storytelling.
John Pulu
Stories come in many forms
When we think about literacy, we often picture children sitting quietly with a book.
But storytelling is much bigger than that.
Stories can be read.
They can be spoken.
They can be performed.
They can be filmed.
For John, the journey from receiving Duffy books to creating stories for the screen demonstrates how reading helps build the imagination and creativity that can lead to countless opportunities later in life.
Not every child who owns a Duffy book will become a filmmaker.
But every child deserves the opportunity to discover where stories might take them.
More than learning to read
At Duffy Books in Homes, our goal has never simply been to improve reading skills.
It’s about helping children discover the confidence to imagine, create, and express themselves.
Sometimes that confidence grows into a lifelong love of books.
Sometimes it becomes a career built around storytelling.
Sometimes it simply gives a child the belief that their own story matters.
John’s journey reminds us that there isn’t one path to success.
Every child’s story is different.
What matters is giving them the opportunity to begin writing it.
Watch John’s story
In this episode of The Duffy Journey series, John reflects on growing up with Duffy Books in Homes, the books that stayed with him, and how a child who didn’t particularly enjoy reading became someone who now makes his living telling stories.
It’s a powerful reminder that books can plant seeds whose impact may not be seen until many years later.
Every story begins somewhere
One of the most powerful messages in John’s story is that children don’t have to be confident readers from day one.
Sometimes all it takes is one book, one opportunity or one person who believes in them.
At Duffy Books in Homes, that’s why we continue putting books into the hands of tamariki across Aotearoa.
Because every child deserves the chance to discover where their own story might lead.
Be part of the next chapter
Stories like Noeleen’s and John’s begin with something simple -a child receiving a book they can call their own.
You can help create more stories like these by supporting a school, volunteering as a Duffy Role Model, or making a donation.
Every book opens a new possibility.
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]]>The post 2026 Government Book Week | Celebrating Reading Across Aotearoa appeared first on Duffy Books in Homes New Zealand.
]]>There is something special about seeing an entire school community come together to celebrate books.
During 2026 Government Book Week, schools across Aotearoa welcomed local MPs, mayors and community leaders to help present Duffy books to students and celebrate the joy of reading.
These visits are about much more than handing out books. They give tamariki the opportunity to see that their community believes in them, values their learning, and supports their future.
Every Duffy book a child takes home is another step towards building a home library. It’s another story to read with whānau, another chance to build confidence, and another opportunity to discover where reading can take them.
We would like to thank the Ministry of Education for its ongoing support in fully funding Book Offer 2 as part of 2026 Government Book Week, ensuring thousands of children across Aotearoa could once again choose books to call their own.
Highlights from 2026 Government Book Week
From Northland to Southland, schools embraced 2026 Government Book Week with enthusiasm, welcoming special guests from their local communities to share in the celebrations.
Among those joining schools were:
Schools across the country also celebrated with their Funding Partners and local communities, recognising the people and organisations who help make the Duffy programme possible.
Every visit reinforced an important message for tamariki: reading matters, and their community is behind them.
Thank you for sharing Your 2026 Government Book Week Celebrations
We loved seeing the photos and hearing about the different ways schools celebrated 2026 Government Book Week.
Whether it was welcoming a local MP, inviting a mayor to read with students, or simply celebrating the arrival of new books, every school helped create a memorable experience for its tamariki.
Thank you to everyone who shared your photos with us. Your celebrations remind us that when schools, communities, Funding Partners and government work together, we can help more children discover the confidence and opportunities that begin with owning books.
We can’t wait to see what next year’s celebrations bring!
Thank You to Our Funding Partners
Government Book Week is only possible because of the generous support of our Funding Partners, who work alongside schools to help put real books into the hands of tamariki.
We would like to acknowledge and thank the Funding Partners supporting the schools featured in this article:
- Rawhitiroa School – The Chaston-Huggins Family
- Westport South School – Westpac New Zealand, Westport
- Otewa School – Westpac New Zealand, Te Awamutu
Could you help support another school?
Several of the schools featured are currently looking for a Funding Partner. By sponsoring a school, you’ll help provide books that children can take home and keep, while also supporting programmes like Duffy Role Models, Duffy Theatre and Duffy Champion Awards.
Current opportunities include:
- Carlton School – estimated annual partnership of $3,723
- Beach Haven School – estimated annual partnership of $7,120
- Westown School – estimated annual partnership of $2,403
If you’d like to help create more moments like these, we would love to hear from you.
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]]>The post From Duffy Books to Building Two Businesses: Noeleen’s Story appeared first on Duffy Books in Homes New Zealand.
]]>What does a love of reading unlock?
For Noeleen Tuala, it unlocked confidence, creativity, and a future she could never have imagined.
Growing up, Noeleen was one of thousands of tamariki who received books through the Duffy Books in Homes programme. Those books became more than stories to enjoy – they became windows into new ideas, new possibilities, and a belief that she could write her own story.
Today, Noeleen is the founder of two successful Pasifika businesses, PELE Baby and TUSI Stationery, proving that reading for pleasure can grow into something extraordinary.
Books that opened doors
Every child deserves the opportunity to own books.
For many Duffy children, the books they receive become the first books they can truly call their own. They are read, shared with siblings, revisited countless times, and often treasured long after childhood.
For Noeleen, those books helped develop a lifelong love of reading that continued to shape her education, confidence, and career.
Reading introduced her to different perspectives, encouraged curiosity, and gave her the confidence to pursue opportunities she may never have considered otherwise.
Building businesses with purpose
Today, Noeleen channels that same creativity into businesses that celebrate culture, identity, and family.
Through PELE Baby and TUSI Stationery, she creates products that reflect Pasifika heritage while encouraging connection, learning, and storytelling.
Her journey is a powerful reminder that literacy skills help to build confidence, resilience, communication, and a desire to dream big.
Why Duffy matters
Stories like Noeleen’s remind us why the Duffy programme exists.
Every book placed into the hands of a child is an investment in their future. While we never know exactly where each child’s journey will lead, we know that reading builds the skills, imagination, and self-belief that help make those journeys possible.
Today, more than 16 million books have been distributed through Duffy Books in Homes, helping generations of young New Zealanders discover the joy of reading and the opportunities it can create.
Noeleen is just one of many former Duffy students who continue to demonstrate the lasting impact that book ownership and literacy can have.
Watch Noeleen’s story
Hear directly from Noeleen as she reflects on growing up with Duffy Books in Homes, the books that inspired her, and how reading helped shape the person – and business owner – she is today.
Every book has the power to change a life
Not every child who receives a Duffy book will grow up to start a business.
But every child deserves the chance to discover where reading might take them.
Whether it leads to entrepreneurship, creativity, science, teaching, sport, or simply a lifelong love of learning, every book has the potential to unlock a future full of possibility.
That’s why Duffy Books in Homes continues to do what we do – one book, one child, and one story at a time.
Help write the next success story
Every child deserves the opportunity to discover where reading can take them.
Whether you support a school, become a Duffy Role Model, or make a donation, you can help put more books into the hands of tamariki across Aotearoa.
Together, we can help create the next generation of readers, dreamers, creators, and storytellers.
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]]>The post Duffy Reaches 16 Million Books and looks ahead to the next chapter appeared first on Duffy Books in Homes New Zealand.
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This term, Duffy Books in Homes reached a huge milestone: 16 million books delivered to tamariki since 1994. That is 16 million moments of excitement, pride, and possibility placed directly into the hands of children who need them most.
Every book represents more than a story. It is a message that says: You matter. Your future matters. Your reading journey matters.
A milestone built on partnership
Reaching 16 million books has been possible because of the people and organisations who believe in the power of reading. Schools, whānau, role models, and especially our Funding Partners all play a part in making the 50–50 programme work.
Schools cover half the cost of the programme, and Funding Partners support the other half. Together, they ensure that every child in a Duffy school receives brand-new books to keep, treasure and read again and again.
This milestone is a celebration of that partnership.
Why this matters more than ever
The need for access to books continues to grow. Many schools joining the programme tell us the same things:
- families are stretched
- books at home are limited
- children are hungry for stories
When a child receives their Duffy books, something shifts. Teachers tell us they see:
- more reading at home
- more confidence in class
- more pride in book ownership
- more joy around literacy
Sixteen million books means millions of these moments, and we are not slowing down.
Help us reach more school communities
As we celebrate this milestone, we are also looking ahead. We have over 100 schools committed on the programme and waiting for Duffy Books to find a funding partner to match the cost of books ordered by every child in their school. This is where we need your help.
New Funding Partners can make a real difference by:
- supporting a school in their community
- helping children build a lifelong love of reading
- seeing the impact of their support through assemblies, thank-you letters and student stories
- joining a kaupapa that has changed lives for more than 30 years
It is a partnership that strengthens communities and creates lasting change.
Join us for the next chapter
Sixteen million books is a milestone worth celebrating. We would love more organisations to partner with a school on the Duffy Books in Homes journey.
If your business, trust, or organisation is interested in becoming a Funding Partner, we would love to kōrero and connect with you. Together, we can help even more tamariki become proud, confident Duffy kids who value reading and telling their own stories.
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]]>The post Duffy Book Offer 2 Competition Winners Announced appeared first on Duffy Books in Homes New Zealand.
]]>We were absolutely blown away by the response to our Government Book Offer 2 competition.
We asked Duffy kids across Aotearoa to tell us what they love about the Duffy programme and what they would change if they were in charge. The result? Hundreds of thoughtful, creative, and imaginative entries that made our judging panel’s job incredibly difficult.
In fact, there were so many fantastic entries that choosing the winners was no easy task. A special shout-out goes to Sir Keith Park School, who sent through an impressive number of entries!
As we read through the responses, a few themes stood out. Many students told us they love being able to choose and keep their own books, discovering new stories, and sharing books with family and friends. Others spoke about how Duffy helps them enjoy reading, build their home libraries, and learn new things.
When it came to ideas for the future, our tamariki didn’t hold back. Suggestions included more book choices, book-themed dress-up days, opportunities to meet authors, extra theatre shows, and even introducing new genres and activities into the programme.
We loved seeing the creativity and enthusiasm behind every response.
$50 Prezzy Card Winners
- Dylan W (10) – Redhill School
- Hine (10) – St Pius X Catholic School
- Tameilau S (10) – St Pius X Catholic School
- Madison M (12) – St Pius X Catholic School
- Sofia (12) – St Pius X Catholic School
- Poppy M (12) – Ōwhango School
- Kourtney (10) – Ōtahuhu Primary School
- Jennifer E (12) – St Joseph’s School, Hastings
- Evana B (6) – Broadwood Area School
- Abigail (11) – Lower Moutere School
Whānau Pack Winners
Our Family Book Pack winners impressed us with their creativity and imagination.
Dennis F from Natone Park School created an action-packed drawing showing the exciting places books can take you, while Gurnabh K from Pōkeno School delighted us with a colourful and imaginative illustration featuring a reading unicorn on an adventure.
Congratulations to:
Dennis F (9) – Natone Park School
Gurnabh K (6) – Pōkeno School
Thank you for sharing your ideas
Congratulations to all of our winners and thank you to every student who entered.
Your feedback helps us understand what you love most about Duffy and gives us plenty of ideas for the future. Most importantly, it reminds us why the programme exists – to help children across Aotearoa discover the joy of reading, build their own libraries, and unlock a world of possibilities through books.
We can’t wait to see what ideas you share with us next time!
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]]>The post Unlock Your World: Share your story and win! appeared first on Duffy Books in Homes New Zealand.
]]>Unlock Your World Competition
Books have the power to unlock new ideas, new adventures, and new possibilities.
That’s why our theme for this term is Unlock Your World – encouraging Duffy students across Aotearoa to explore their imagination, share their experiences, and tell the stories that matter to them.
To celebrate, we’re inviting students to enter our Unlock Your World Competition for the chance to win one of three amazing prizes.
What Story Will You Tell?
We want to hear about the world that makes you unique.
Your story can be about:
The World Around You
Tell us about your family, friends, school, community, favourite place, or the things you enjoy most in everyday life.
The World You Dream Of
Let your imagination run wild. Create a future adventure, an exciting invention, a magical place, or a world you’ve always dreamed of exploring.
The World Inside You
Share your thoughts, feelings, talents, passions, hopes, or the things that make you who you are.
There are no right or wrong answers. We simply want to hear your story.
Amazing Prizes to Be Won
Three lucky students will each win a fantastic Mid Sleeper Bunk Bed, valued at approximately $800.
One winner will be selected from each age category:
- Ages 5–6 years
- Ages 7–9 years
- Ages 10–12 years
Duffy Books in Homes will cover the shipping costs for all prize winners.
How to Enter
Entering is easy.
Simply write your story based on one of the three competition themes and complete the official entry form included in the Book Offer 3 catalogue.
The catalogue contains all the information you need, including competition details and how to submit your entry.
Entries must be received by Friday 25 September.
The three lucky winners will be notified during the first week of Term 4.
Why Storytelling Matters
Every great reader has a story to tell.
Storytelling helps build confidence, creativity, communication skills, and imagination. It encourages children to think deeply about their experiences, explore new ideas, and discover the power of their own voice.
At Duffy Books in Homes, we believe every child has a story worth sharing.
Ready to Unlock Your World?
Whether your story is funny, adventurous, heartfelt, imaginative, or inspiring, we want to read it.
Start writing, start creating, and start imagining.
We can’t wait to discover the incredible worlds that Duffy students across Aotearoa choose to share.
Good luck!
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