The membership of U3A Ponsonby includes many avid readers who were delighted to hear a presentation from Nicola Legat (ONZM) on the topic of publishing in New Zealand.
Nicola was made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2018 for her services to New Zealand’s publishing industry. She is the founding publisher of Massey University Press, which she established in 2015, but her extensive publishing roles have included: Publishing Director of Random House (2005-2014), Publisher of Te Papa Press, a former editor of Metro and feature writer for North and South magazine. Other literary and publishing roles include being Chair of the New Zealand Book Awards Charitable Trust and Deputy Chair of the highly regarded Auckland Writers and Readers Festival.
Nicola’s presentation included a detailed description of the Ockham Book Awards: an acknowledgement of the benefits of reading to those of older age, and a review of significant statistical data regarding New Zealand’s reading habits.
Since 2016, New Zealand’s regular National Reading Survey has investigated how we are reading. The latest research conducted by Horizon Research in 2025, of 1000 adults (over 18 years of age), showed a slight increase in the number of adults who have read a book in the last year: equivalent to around 3,359,000 readers (89% of New Zealand adults). This is a slight rise from 85% in 2021, with the data since 2017 remaining relatively steady overall, counteracting international narratives of reading rates. The survey also reported a rise in male readers, which is heartening, while another significant finding is that 84% of men had read a book in the past year, which was up from 79% in 2021.
Nicola described the negative impacts on New Zealand’s bookstores of the Covid lockdowns when many bookstores were forced to close. The growth of Amazon is another concern for the longer-term survival of our bookstores, as well as the negative impacts on reading of increasing screen use by our younger generations. Another interesting development which might be difficult for U3A members to understand is a current growing interest amongst the Millennial generation, or Generation Y, towards fantasy literature.
However, Nicola also described several positive aspects, which include an increasing number of Maori, Pacifica and Asian authors as well as the recent availability of children's books in Te Reo. The resounding success of the Writers and Readers festival was highlighted, as well as the encouragement of children’s reading provided by the Hells Pizza Reading Challenge Award, where free pizzas are donated to children who can demonstrate having read seven books. With the assistance of librarians, this programme has been recognised as successfully incentivising many previously reluctant junior readers.
A growth of interest in poetry was also mentioned, and the attention of U3A members was directed to the fact that Friday, August 22nd, is Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day, when communities are encouraged to create, share and celebrate poetry.
On an entirely different topic, U3A member Dr Chris Savill, entertained the August meeting with a slide presentation of the historical development of Zen Gardens in Japan describing the significance of both cranes and turtles to the Buddhist faith as evidenced by the sculptures and meditative temple gardens, composed of lakes, rocks and trees amongst beautifully raked gravels in a contemplative setting.
Ponsonby U3A welcomes newcomers. If you are interested in attending, first as a visitor, please call President Bronwen Hughes on M: 021 549093.
NEXT MEETING: Friday, 12th September 2025
GUEST SPEAKER: Willie Iosia – THE BLUE LIGHT PROGRAMME
VENUE: Herne Bay Petanque Club, Salisbury Reserve, Salisbury Street, Herne Bay
ENQUIRIES: Bronwen Hughes, President, Ponsonby U3A. www.u3a.nz
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