Category: What’s on

Mysterious Manawatū – Ngaio Marsh Awards author talk

// What's on

The Ngaio Marsh Awards, in association with the Palmerston North City Library, invites booklovers to a thrilling free event featuring four talented local authors.

2023 Ngaios finalist Riley Chance is joined by past Acorn Prize for Fiction shortlistee Gigi Fenster, and fellow 2024 Ngaio Marsh Awards entrants GB Ralph and Bing Turkby, for a criminally good conversation about the art of storytelling, how to craft memorable characters, the importance of setting and weaving in real-life issues, and what drew each of them to mystery and thriller writing.

WHEN: Friday 3 May 2024
WHERE: Central Library, Ground Floor
WHEN: 6pm for a 6.15pm panel

FREE entry, refreshments provided.

GB Ralph is an engineering consultant in Palmerston North and author of cosy mysteries and gay romcoms. The second novel in his Milverton Mysteries series, POISON AT PENSHAW HALL, was an #1 Audible category bestseller, and was nominated for Best Overall Mystery/Thriller in the 2023 Queer Indie Awards. GB Ralph’s books on the Library catalogue.

Bing Turkby is a Manawatū writer, librarian, and musician. He is the author of the ‘Guitar Store Mysteries’ series of cosy crime novels, set in a fictionalized version of Palmerston North. Bing writes stories with a 95% chance of guitars and a 45% chance of cats. Bing Turkby’s books on the Library catalogue.

Gigi Fenster is an award-winning novelist, short story writer, and Massey University academic who has taught law and creative writing. Her latest novel, the psychological thriller A GOOD WINTER, won the 2021 Michael Gifkins Award, and was shortlisted for the Acorn Prize for Fiction at the 2022 Ockham NZ Book Awards. Gigi Fenster’s books on the Library catalogue.

Riley Chance is an author and management consultant who’s been a Senior Lecturer at Massey University. He writes a near-future series of thrillers featuring journalist Grace Marks. His latest thriller THE DEMOCRACY GAME explores the growing threat of alt-right groups. Riley Chance’s books on the Library catalogue.

Hell Reading Challenge

// What's on

The Hell Reading Challenge is back for 2024! Read 7 books to get a free kids healthy pizza. This challenge is for School Years 1-8, it’s free, and it runs at all Library locations, so you can pop into your nearest one to join the fun.

The HELL Reading Challenge is a well-established programme that has been hugely successful in getting
tamariki reading and enjoying the pleasures of stories. The Library provides the challenge for tamariki not already involved through their school.

There’s more information on the Hell Pizza website, or just ask at your nearest library.

‘Off The Page’ author series

// What's on

Off the Page is back! The always popular Off The Page series is relaunching with a stellar line-up of local, national and internationally published writers. Off the Page will be bringing food writing, crime, historical fiction, romance and more to the Palmerston North City Library. The best of New Zealand writing is better than ever in 2024!

Off the Page will feature a popular writer in conversation with a local chair about their books, the writing life, and much more. As always, the events will also feature book sales and signings, snacks, and stimulating conversation. Everyone is invited and the events are free.

The writers in the Off the Page line-up are all acclaimed writers launching new books. They are the very best New Zealand has to offer! The writers you would pay to see at our national festivals, are free at your hometown library.

Launching the season, on April 19th, we have the award-winning crime writer Charity Norman in conversation with Gigi Fenster. Charity has published more than ten novels. Her book Remember Me won the Ngaio Marsh award in 2023 – an award which three of her previous books were finalists in. She is a wonderfully engaging speaker, and we are excited to be able to talk about her upcoming book as well as earlier ones.

On 24th May: Come and hear the wonderful Vanya Insull (VJ Cooks) in conversation with the library’s own Angela Rea. Vanya’s Everyday Favourites is a hit recipe book, and her blogs, courses and website are all hugely popular. If you’ve googled a meal for the family, you’ve probably cooked one of Vanya’s fabulous recipes.

On 21 June, Saige Vendome will be in conversation with Thom Conroy. Saige is an award-winning human rights journalist. Her new book The Seasonwife reveals aspects of our history previously hidden from mainstream education. Saige has a deep historical knowledge and understanding of the lives lived by her characters.

On 19 July, Catherine Robertson will talk about her TWO new books. Catherine is known for her wit, her vibrancy and her prolific writing career. She is a key figure in Aotearoa’s literary landscape. At least one reviewer has called her a ‘national treasure’. And she writes what she calls ‘Romcoms with heat and heart’!

On 20 or 27 September, Manawatū’s own Richard Shaw will be in discussion with Colin Bjork. Richard’s newest book, The Unsettled follows from his acclaimed memoir, The Forgotten Coast. In his latest, Richard offers readers the stories of Pakeha coming to grips with the truths of their family’s settler history – people who are unsettled but are doing something about it.

On 11 October, join us for Student Showcase. Massey University’s Gigi Fenster and Thom Conroy will host an evening featuring the emerging voices of Massey’s celebrated Creative Writing programme. The showcase is a rare opportunity to tomorrow’s biggest talent today.

Find all the Off The Page details here.

Quiet Hour – “Hoods Up, Volume Down”

// What's on

This Wednesday 10th April, Te Pātikitiki Library will participate in #hoodsupvolumedown – the nationwide Quiet Hour to support the Autistic Community in Aotearoa.

From 10-11am, visitors to the library will be able to browse with reduced light, noise and other distractions where possible.

You can contact the local AutismNZ support person at manawatu@autismnz.org.nz.

And you can find all sorts of resources by searching the Library catalogue for ‘autism’.

School Holidays

// What's on

There is a wide range of offerings across all our library locations to spark imagination and play these April School Holidays:

  • Come to the KaRs Children’s entertainment group who will premiere their latest music video ‘One Earth’ on Earth Day (Monday 22nd April),
  • Get out and play as the library joins the return of the Pop Up Play series out in the community at Savage Crescent Park (Monday 15 April) and Ahimate Reserve (Tuesday 16 April)
  • Join the Comic Craze 2 Beanstack Bingo Reading Challenge
  • Create and make your own comic book character and enter the competition
  • Indulge your Dog Man fan by heading to Awapuni’s Dog Man day (Friday 19 April)
  • AND join in the usual fun with VR, craft, story telling sessions (including one where you get to wear your pyjamas!), the return visit of our favourite canine friends…AND THERE IS STILL MORE!

Here’s the complete list of activities across all Library locations.

Festival of cultures 

// What's on

Join us in celebrating the diverse cultures we have in the community! 

The mobile library will be at the Festival of Cultures World Food, Craft and Music Fair.  There will be Community Language books to discover and check out. Talk to us about the digital resources in different languages available through the library! 

From the 15th of February Global Parents Support have a Traditional Costumes around the World display at Central Library. View special traditional garments and pick up an entry to their colouring in competition. Entries will also be available at the Community Libraries.  

There will be some cultural immersion book displays at the libraries and you can watch World movies and documentries for free through  

Beamafilm | Watch movies, series and more … 

Kanopy – Stream Classic Cinema, Indie Film and Top Documentaries 

Don’t forget you can share your photos from the Festival of Cultures on  Manawatū Heritage – Manawatū Heritage (pncc.govt.nz).   

Festival of Cultures 

Lantern Parade 

Friday 23rd February 

5pm-9.30pm 

Te Marae o Hine- The Square 

World Food, Craft and Music Fair  

Saturday 24 February 

10am-4pm 

Te Marae o Hine- The Square 

Festival of Cultures World Food, Craft and Music Fair 2018: Photo by Rob Edwards accessed on Manawatū Heritage. 

Lunar New Year 2024

// What's on

During Lunar New Year, communities all over the world participate in different celebrations. Lunar new year typically starts when the first new moon appears until the first full moon, the start date various between cultures. Lanterns, decorations, traditional food, fireworks and red envelopes are just a few traditions followed during this time hoping to bring prosperity for the new year.  

If you follow the Chinese zodiac you will know that the year 2024 is the Year of the Wood Dragon. The characteristics of the Wood Dragon include confidence, creativity and determination and the Year of the Dragon is a symbol of strength, luck and success.   

This year Global Parents Support have a display about how the Lunar New Year is celebrated around the World! Come and see it on the First floor at the Central Library before the 12th Feb. 

Click on a book cover in the image below and it will take you to the Library catalogue record for that book. 

Lunar-new-year-books-blogDownload

Waitangi Day

// What's on

How much do you know about Te Tiriti? Do you know who translated Te Tiriti? Do you know how many copies were made? Come into the Central Library to test your knowledge.

We are running a quiz from Wednesday 31st Jan to Wednesday 7th Feb. Find the Tino Rangatiratanga flags spread out around the library to help find answers to the questions.

Once you’ve completed the quiz, you can enter the draw to win a prize.

Here are some useful websites to find information on Te Tiriti.

The Treaty of Waitangi – Archives New Zealand

Treaty Resource Centre – He Puna Mātauranga o Te Tiriti (trc.org.nz)

The Treaty in brief – The Treaty in brief | NZHistory, New Zealand history online

Waitangi Tribunal | Waitangi Tribunal

Kāinga – Wai 262, Protecting and Nurturing Taonga Māori

Activity Books from Te Papa

https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/sites/default/files/waitangi_activity_book_a4.pdf

https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/sites/default/files/waitangi-day-activity-book-maori-a4.pdf

Blue Smoke

// What's on

On Thursday 8 February, there’s a talk about the 75th Anniversary of the “Blue Smoke” recording release, and 28 Maori Battalion in the Second World War. This talk will be presented by Ruma Karaitiana, Rangitāne Kaumatua and Chair, Rangitāne o Manawatu Commercial Arm.

The talk is co-hosted by RNZE CT/ECMC and Palmerston North City Library.


Central Library, Heritage area (2nd Floor), 12:00pm-1:00pm.

Image: Ruru Karaitiana (songwriter and composer) and Pixie Williams (vocalist)

Random Poetry Generator!

// What's on

The next time you’re in the Library and think ‘I could really use a quick, randomly generated poem right now’, we’ve got you covered!

The Poetry Machine has been coded to randomly select and print a poem from submissions received after we put out a call on Facebook. The ‘machine’ is a repurposed receipt printer linked to a Raspberry Pi and a giant red button (just because). It is housed in a gorgeous old record player box. It’s designed to be ‘plug and play’ so wherever we put it, people will be able to print themselves a random poem to enjoy. 

At present, we have about 60 poems from a range of submitters (newbies through to experienced poets, school children to more mature folk).

The Poetry Machine will be at the Central Library from Wednesday 13th December for about a month (excluding our closed period for the holidays).

Thanks to the poets who submitted. We’re sure your words will delight and inspire!