In the same vein as New Zealand Music Month, New Zealand Book Month celebrates the glut of international-quality, home-grown talent as well as the fabulous local and literate audience. Just as Flight of the Conchords proved with their Grammy win that Kiwis can sing, Lloyd Jones and Mister Pip showed that New Zealanders can get in the ring with Man Booker Prize heavyweights.In the same vein as New Zealand Music Month, New Zealand Book Month celebrates the glut of international-quality, home-grown talent as well as the fabulous local and literate audience. Just as Flight of the Conchords proved with their Grammy win that Kiwis can sing, Lloyd Jones and Mister Pip showed that New Zealanders can get in the ring with Man Booker Prize heavyweights.Running for the month of September, NZ Book Month proves reading is still mass-market entertainment - and perhaps even verging on cool - with Tamati Coffey, much loved former What Now host and now a roving reporter for Breakfast, joining the judging panel to decide the make-up of the annual Six Pack. This book really is for everyone. It's a best seller in Braille as well as print and there are workshops on how to get your writing inside its highly contested covers at Manurewa Marae, with 4for$6: four Maori writers for $6!

Books for blokes will drag Olympics-hypnotised men off the couches and down to
"A Word in his Ear": a night focussed on sports, adventure and the written word presented by rugby broadcaster Phil Gifford, freewheeling ordinary bloke Peter Leitch, Mt Ruapehu explosion survivor William Pike and sportswriter and Otago Rugby CEO, Ron Palenski. Attendance is compulsory for real men, especially with free beer on entry. What's more it's not just an Auckland thing - there are Men's events with complimentary beverage appeal all over the country.

For those more inclined to wine and dine, there's a foodie feast at The Langham in Auckland. A stella cast of Kiwi foodies, a three course lunch, witty banter, secret recipes and lessons on how to be fabulous from Peta Mathias. It's a good time to be in touch with your taste buds this September.

Finally, will New Zealand Book Month please think of the children? Of course they will. Wellington's Te Papa will come to life as young readers participate in a fancy dress-up based on Lynley Dodd's fantasy titles, badge and puppet making, ninja puppets, a giant snake and a huge ukulele off! Kids can also jump online to be part of the Lunch Pack, giving their views on Kiwi books and win a trip to Auckland, plus free books and Tip Top ice cream!

Also at Te Papa, musos including Ryan Prebble and Rosy Tin Teacaddy provide entertainment for parents with compositions for Kiwi poetry; David Eggleton, Jock Phillips, Duncan Sarkies and Joe Bennett ruminate over "Books and BBQs" and Gregory O'Brien presents this year's prestigious Janet Frame Memorial Lecture.

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New Zealand Book Month - Lunch Pack

More information

For a full list of national events visit NZ Book Month

For kids competitions and information visit Kids NZ Book Month

Press release: New Zealand Book Month

21/08/08