October 2025 Library Newsletter

A word from the Community Engagement Librarian ...

September went by in a whirlwind here at Hauraki District Libraries! On top of keeping up with the amazing amount of new release books we’ve added to our collection, we’ve also been kept super busy with our Spring School Holiday Programme, author event with Donovan Bixley, school and ECE visits as well as our current regular programmes. 

October is one of my favourite months - it’s a beautiful time in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and it’s an even better time for my reading habits! I love spooky season; I’ve always been an avid reader of horror in all its forms - you may be surprised at how wide-ranging the genre is! From cosmic horror (Lovecraftian), psychological horror, gothic horror and more, the best horror books make me question human nature in ways I never have before. 

We have so much to look forward to in the coming months (I’m looking at you, Summer!) but in the meantime, I hope you might be tempted by some of our fantastic selection of horror books to celebrate the spookiest of months. 

Natasha ~ Senior Librarian - Community Engagement


Board Games

Looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon? Our libraries have an amazing collection of board games that are perfect for playing right here. 

Forget the screens and get ready for some face-to-face fun! We have a game for everyone, from classic favourites like Scrabble and Snakes & Ladders to our latest additions - Pictureka and Herd Mentality. 

Our in-house games are free to play and are a great way to challenge your friends, family, or meet new people in the community. Just ask a staff member for a game, find a table, and let the good times roll!

Staff Recommendations

Find out what our staff members have been reading and enjoying!

Here One Minute by Alex Lake

This is a gripping, fast-paced, psychological thriller which keeps the reader guessing until the end. Anna - a young teenager - gets on a flight only to not arrive at her destination. The plane landed but where was Anna? How can she vanish on a flight? CCTV footage was checked and Anna was seen entering the toilets at arrivals, but was not seen leaving. How can this be? Willow - Anna’s stepmother - leaves Anna’s father at the airport to rush to get her son from sports training only to find out he has disappeared too… This is the second time Anna has disappeared… has she been abducted by the same person? The book’s ending is drama filled and hooked me in right up to the end.

Karen ~ Senior Librarian - Programmes


Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar

Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar is unlike any book I’ve ever read, it’s a serial killer thriller told in a unique way. Written in the style of true crime – complete with staged photographs – Chizmar places himself at the heart of the mystery. The result is a clever, unsettling, and highly inventive read for fans of crime fiction. 

Julia ~ Library Assistant

School Holiday Fun!

Our Spring School Holiday Programme had a fantastic turn out! A huge thank you to everyone who came along and made the programme such a memorable success. We loved seeing your creativity! Check out the photos below to see some of the fun things we got up to (you can find more photos on our Facebook page). We can’t wait to see you at our next holiday programme 🙂 

Donovan Bixley Event

What an awesome morning we had at Waihī Library last Thursday 2 October with the wonderful Donovan Bixley! 

A huge thanks to Donovan for taking the time to stop by to entertain both children and adults alike with his fabulous illustrating and storytelling! A shout-out to the amazing team at Whangamata Community Library as without them, we wouldn't have even known Donovan was in the area and of course, thanks to each and every one of you who came to the event. We hope you enjoy his books even more now that you have met him!

Children's Reading Challenge

Congrats to Debbie, Zoey and Georgia for winning our Term 3 Reading Challenge! 

We had a record number of entries this Term which is amazing! Well done to everyone who entered! 

Our Term 4 Reading Challenges are available to pick up from your local library now. To enter the prize draw for Term 4, collect a card and write down the titles of 5 completed challenges. There are a range of different challenges to choose from including reading a book set in New Zealand, a book with a cat in it or even a book which has been made into a movie! 

Hand in your completed challenge card by December 20 2025. 

Get Ready for Spooky Season

Adult Fiction

The unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica 

Going home in the dark by Dean Koontz 

Wicked Jenny by Matt Hilton

Witchcraft for wayward girls by Grady Hendrix 

Hungerstone by Kat Dunn 

Once was Willem by M.R. Carey 

Blood on her tongue by Johanna van Veen 

Whistle by Linwood Barclay 

Polybius by Colin Armstrong 

The library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw


Children & Teens

Picture Books: 

101 spooky bums by Sam Harper (H) 

Pig the monster by Aaron Blabey (B)

Chapter Books: 

Things that go bump by Kathryn Foxfield (FOXF) 

Spooky stories by Lia Visirin (SPOO)

Teen: 

The summer I ate the rich by Maika Moulite (MOUL) 

The book of living secrets by Madeleine Roux (ROUX)


Senior Film Sessions

Our Senior Film Sessions continue to be a huge hit at our libraries! 

Our October film is ‘A Call to Spy’. 

Bring a friend or two to enjoy this movie with you. 

Our next film session is Friday 31 October.

Follow Us On Socials

Facebook - www.facebook.com/haurakidistrictlibraries 

Instagram - www.instagram.com/haurakidistrictlibraries 

Website - https://library.hauraki-dc.govt.nz

Contact Us

Phone - 07 862 8609 

Email - hdc-library@hauraki-dc.govt.nz