STATEMENT FROM PETER
BIGGS, CHAIR OF THE NEW ZEALAND BOOK COUNCIL | TE KAUNIHERA PUKAPUKA O AOTEAROA
I and the Board of the New Zealand Book Council are very sorry that Catriona Ferguson has decided to leave the Book Council after four and a half years as CEO.
Catriona
has done an exceptional job in advancing the New Zealand Book Council’s mission
to promote and champion reading for everyone – because we believe the power of
reading changes lives.
Over
the last couple of days, I have personally contacted people in the literary
sector to let them know that Catriona is leaving the Book Council to take up
the role of Association Director at PANZ. There was consistent praise and
recognition of Catriona for the extraordinary contributions she has made to the
sector – and to the Book Council.
As
well as ensuring that the Book Council delivers on its Tōtara role obligations,
one stand-out initiative, which was conceived and driven by Catriona, captures
her unique set of skills and her commitment to building a nation of readers and
writers. The Ōtāhuhu Writers in Schools
Project, now in its third year, is an innovative collaboration
between five Ōtāhuhu primary/intermediate schools, Reading Together, the
Ōtāhuhu Pātaka Kōrero Ōtāhuhu Library, the National Library Services to Schools
programme, and the New Zealand Book Council's Writers in Schools programme.
Five
low decile schools in Ōtāhuhu (South Auckland) hosted five diverse New Zealand
writers in residence. They encouraged and inspired students to develop their
creative writing talents and helped them to publish their work in a series of
anthologies. The Book Council is now looking to extend this initiative
nation-wide.
For
this – and for all of the other things which Catriona contributed to the Book
Council and to Aotearoa New Zealand, we thank her and wish her every success in
her new roleHer last day at the Book Council will be Friday 24 March.
We have already started the recruiting drive for a new CEO.
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