WHERE: Pipitea Marae, 55 Thorndon Quay, Pipitea, Wellington 6011 TIME: 6.15pm for a 6.30pm ceremony start, followed by drinks and refreshments, 8.15pm to 9.30pm TICKETS: $47.50 (including after function) Book and pay online at https://events.humanitix.com/nz-book-awards-2024 (Humanitix booking fees may apply) For any enquiries regarding ticket sales, please email childrensawards@nzbookawards.org.nz

On Wednesday 14 August, Wellington will host Books Alive events, featuring a selection of the finalists in the 2024 New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults. Books Alive events will take place at Tiakiwai Conference Centre, National Library of New Zealand, Molesworth Street, Wellington. These events will be FREE to attend, and will take place during the school day on Wednesday 14 August. There will be sessions for upper primary, intermediate, and secondary school students in a varied schedule that includes behind-the-book talks, workshops on writing and illustration, lightning talk sessions, storytelling, and live drawing. Finalists involved in Books Alive sessions at the National Library include: Eileen Merriman, Feana Tu‘akoi, Katharine J Adams, Katie Furze, Michaela Keeble, Moira Wairama, Ned Barraud, Nicoletta Benella, Rachael King, Raymond McGrath, Ruth Paul, Stacy Gregg, Steve Mushin, Tessa Duder and Zak Ātea. Booking is essential for these events. To register your interest in bringing your school or class to these exciting events, please email booksalive@nzbookawards.org.nz with your school name, contact details, the number of students you would like to bring. A limited number of spaces are available in some National Library sessions (both morning and afternoon). However we encourage you to register your interest as soon as possible to secure places for your school. A selection of 2024 finalists (Josh Morgan, Sacha Cotter, Hilary Jean Tapper, Melinda Szymanik and Vasanti Unka) will be involved in Books Alive events at Waitohi Library in Johnsonville. These sessions are fully booked, but a waitlist has been set up in case of cancellations. Please email booksalive@nzbookawards.org.nz to be added to the waitlist. The 2024 Books Alive finalist event programme in Wellington is being organised for the New Zealand Book Awards Trust by expert teams at Wellington City Libraries and the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, who is hosting sessions in its Tiakiwai Conference Centre. It is supported by funding from the Mātātuhi Foundation and Wellington City Council.