New Topic Explorer, new rauemi for kaupapa Māori kura, PD and more
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Newsletter to schools — Term 3 2025
Here is your Term 3 newsletter from Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa | National Library of New Zealand:
- Introducing the new Topic Explorer
- Understanding media and information literacy
- Tūhuratia Te Ao Māori Rauemi A-Ipurangi
- Aotearoa school libraries research project
- 2025 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults
- Professional development in Term 3
- Lending service news
- Online resources for Term 3.
Introducing the new Topic Explorer
We're excited to announce that the new Topic Explorer is live on our website! With 20 topic sets now available, there will be plenty more to come.
Hōpara Kaupapa | Topic Explorer helps kaiako, school library staff and ākonga in Years 0 to 13 find quality and trusted resources that support the New Zealand curriculum.
The new Topic Explorer has an improved design and layout. It also has enhanced search and navigation features. Topics are curated and align with curriculum year levels, highlighting content from Aotearoa New Zealand, te ao Māori, and places and peoples of the Pacific.
The legacy (previous) version of Topic Explorer will remain available while we build content in the new tool.
Understanding media and information literacy
We've recently published new content on understanding media and information literacy. Find out about media information knowledge, skills and attitudes, and why they are so important.
Explore key aspects such as the information landscape and polluted information. Make connections to media and information literacy skills in the curricula.
Check it out: Understanding media and information literacy.
Tūhuratia Te Ao Māori Rauemi A-Ipurangi
Ko Te Ao Māori Rauemi Ā-Ipurangi he pae ipurangi mā ngā tauira me ngā kaiako i roto i ngā kura kaupapa Māori, he mea hanga nā te Māori mō te Māori mā te Māori.
I hoahoatia hei marae ko te wharenui Te Hīnātore kei tōna poho, ka whakauraura te pae nei i te mātauranga Māori me te ao Māori, hei wāhi haumaru hoki mā ngā ākonga e tūhura, e whakahihiri. Ko ētahi kaupapa i roto i Te Hīnātore ko te Tino rangatiratanga, te Tiriti o Waitangi, te Mana wāhine, te Raranga me te whatu, te Waka hourua, me te maha noa atu.
I āta whakawhanakehia tēnei pae nā roto mai i ngā wānanga ki ngā tauira me ngā kaiako kura kaupapa Māori. Ka mihi mātou ki te manaakitanga me te atawhai o ēnei kura.
Hōparatia Te Ao Māori Rauemi A-Ipurangi
Kimi kōrero anō mō Te Ao Māori Rauemi A-Ipurangi: Āwhina.
Aotearoa school libraries research project
In December 2023, the School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (SLANZA) and the National Library began a collaborative research project with the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER). The overarching goal of the project was to strengthen the knowledge and evidence base around school library provision in Aotearoa New Zealand.
2025 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults
Image credit: New Zealand Book Awards Trust.
The finalists for the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults (NZCYA) 2025 have been announced. These awards celebrate the contribution Aotearoa New Zealand authors and illustrators make to building national identity and cultural heritage.
A team from the National Library have put together a range of activities for the 2025 finalist activity booklet. These activities encourage children and ākonga of all ages to become actively involved in reading.
The team will also be writing a blog to celebrate the winners. Make sure to keep an eye out for this.
Check out the 2025 award finalists
You can borrow the NZCYA finalists and other great books from us through our school lending service.
Professional learning in Term 3
The National Library has a fantastic range of professional development options lined up for Term 3, designed to support school library staff, teachers and literacy leaders across Aotearoa. Whether you’re looking to build stronger library services, boost reading engagement, make better use of digital resources or support ākonga Māori, there’s something on offer to suit your goals!
We've a wide range of one-day workshops and webinars running throughout the term. Examples include ‘Reading for hauora (wellbeing)’ and ‘Inspiring young Māori readers’. And there's more like these, too! We also have some popular series returning this term:
- Making the most of National Library’s digital resources — how to access and curate resources from EPIC, Papers Past, DigitalNZ, AnyQuestions. We also introduce resources from Archives New Zealand and Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision.
- Library essentials — offering practical tips and support for managing and growing your school library.
Engaging, practical, applicable — so sign up today
Our professional learning opportunities are designed to be engaging, practical and directly applicable to your school’s context. They also offer a chance to connect with other educators and library staff across the country, share ideas and build your professional network.
Find out more and register now as places fill quickly: Professional learning courses and events.
Lending service news
Submit your Term 3 topics selection and extra reading requests by 15 August. Term 3 books are due back to us by 19 September.
Check out our 2025 request and return dates
Find out what schools can borrow from us
Term 3 requests — some delays as new staff are onboarded
Term 3 loan requests peaked at 250+ before the holidays, and we're focused on completing these.
Both the Auckland and Christchurch teams have vacancies, with newly appointed staff due to start in August and September. This means there may be delays in filling some requests. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Returning your books
To keep everyone safe from injury, ensure your packed boxes weigh less than 15kg.
Online resources for Term 3
Check out our learning resources on popular topics and important historical events from Hōpara Kaupapa | Topic Explorer, Many Answers, Te Kupenga and He Tohu.
Use our primary source analysis tools to support ākonga to think critically about people, places and events: Tools for primary source analysis.
July to September 1981 — Anti-Springbok Rugby Tour protests around Aotearoa New Zealand
- 1981 Springbok tour protests
- 1981 Springbok tour protests — causes and consequences
- Springbok Rugby Tour 1981
16 July 1965 — New Zealand artillery opens fire in Vietnam
27 July to 2 August 2025 — Vanuatu Bislama Language Week
2 August 1983 — Protest as USS Texas visits Auckland
3 to 9 August 2025 — Cook Islands Māori Language Week
9 July 1986 — Homosexual Law Reform Act passed
1 August 2021 — Dawn raids apology
17 to 23 August 2025 — Tongan Language Week
29 August 1915 — New Zealand captures German Samoa
14 to 20 Hepetema — Te Wiki o te Reo Māori
19 Sept 1893 — Women in Aotearoa New Zealand win the right to vote
