Hōtaka Kura at the Auckland Writers Festival Evaluation (2025)
Project leads: Annalise Myers and Tony O’Connor
The Auckland Writers Festival Schools Programme – Hōtaka Kura is an annual event that brings the magic of storytelling to life for over 6,000 students from Years 5 to 13. Through interactive sessions, workshops, and author meet-and-greets, the programme celebrates the written, illustrated, and spoken word while nurturing a lifelong love of reading and writing.
In 2025, the Festival commissioned Point & Associates to evaluate whether Hōtaka Kura is meeting its goals - supporting literacy, promoting reading for pleasure, addressing declining reading standards, and enhancing student wellbeing.
Evaluation Approach
The evaluation used a mixed-methods framework, including:
Surveys of students and teachers
Interviews with educators, organisers, and sponsors
Thematic analysis of feedback and outcomes
Review of accessibility and equity measures, such as the Travel Fund
What We Learned
Students described the programme as “inspiring,” “fun,” and “AMAZINGGGG!!!!!!!!”
Teachers praised the curriculum alignment and the opportunity for students to meet real authors and illustrators
The programme sparked creativity, with students writing stories, starting school newspapers, and exploring new genres
Feedback highlighted areas for improvement, such as streamlining book signings and expanding outreach to more schools
Why It Matters
Hōtaka Kura is more than a festival - it’s a gateway to imagination, identity, and possibility. It connects tamariki and rangatahi with the literary world in ways that are culturally responsive, emotionally resonant, and educationally impactful. The evaluation affirms its value and offers insights to help it grow even stronger.
