September 2025 Library Newsletter

Māori Language Week kicks off on 14 September! This year marks 50 years of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori and our libraries will be doing lots to celebrate! Come and check out our Māori language collection; we will have books for children right through to adults on display for the month of September. 

We will also be holding book giveaways! All you have to do is show us your Te Reo skills by translating some simple library words or phrases. Make sure you pick up an entry form from any of our three Libraries. 

If you have tamariki, why not join us for our Bilingual Story Time? Join us at Paeroa Library on Tuesday 16 September and at Waihī Library on Wednesday 17 September. Story Time sessions start at 10.30am. 

Get ready for an enchanting and exciting school holiday at Hauraki District Libraries! Our Spring School Holiday Programme is bursting with "Silly Science & Fairy Fun", promising two weeks of wonder, creativity and discovery. 

Join us for three days of magical fairy garden creation at Paeroa Library from Tuesday 23 - Thursday 25 September and Waihī Library from Tuesday 30 September - Thursday 2 October. These sessions must be booked and we recommend booking all three sessions. 

Session 1: 3D Printed Fairy Elements! We'll be exploring the fascinating world of 3D printing to create unique and miniature elements for your fairy garden. Computer skills essential as you will be designing elements on Tinkercad. 

Session 2: Fairy Garden Windows & Doors! Come along and start building the enchanting base for your very own fairy garden. We'll provide materials and inspiration, and you bring your imagination! 

Session 3: Finishing Touches & Grand Reveal! Bring your garden to life with all the final touches. Paint your 3D-printed creations, arrange natural elements, and get ready to take home a truly magical masterpiece. 

But the fun doesn't stop there! Prepare for giggles and gasps with our "Silly Science" experiments. What crazy concoctions will we make? What surprising reactions will we see? And for those who love to tinker, our "Brain Box" electrical circuits will challenge young minds to connect, create, and light up their world.

Keep an eye on our website and social media for daily reminders about our holiday programme or drop in to your local branch to pick up a timetable. Sessions run from 10.30am - 12 noon (except Thursday 2 October at Waihī Library which will run from 2pm - 3.30pm). 

Bookings Essential for Playstation, STEM activities and the 3D and Fairy Garden sessions. 

Spaces for these fantastic activities are limited, so make sure you book your spot early to avoid disappointment by phoning us on 07 862 8609 or emailing at hdc-libraries@hauraki-dc.govt.nz.

While we love our digital offerings, there's nothing quite like the feel of a brand-new magazine in your hands. At Hauraki District Libraries, we're proud to offer a fantastic physical collection of magazines covering a wide range of interests. 

From Hobbies to Home Decor, We've Got You Covered!

Are you a keen gardener looking for fresh inspiration? A foodie on the hunt for new recipes? Or maybe you just want to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in home decorating, fashion, or current events? Our magazine collection has something for everyone! We are also excited to announce a new addition to our collection: Earth Building magazine. This publication is perfect for anyone interested in sustainable building practices, offering insights into the art and science of using natural materials. 

How to Borrow: 

Magazine rentals are $2 for one week. Simply visit your local Hauraki District Library branch in Paeroa, Waihī, or Ngātea, pick out your favourites, and check them out at the desk or by using the self-service kiosk. If the issue you are looking for is not on the shelf, make sure to ask one of our helpful staff members as it may be located at another branch.

Next time you’re visiting, make sure you check out our staff and customer recommendation shelf. A few books currently on the shelf include: 

Persuasion by Jane Austen 

The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson

Dissolution by Nicholas Binge 

The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb 

The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty 

Charlotte Grey by Sebastian Faulks 

The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton 

Four Fires by Bryce Courtenay

Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton

Raising Hare is a moving and tender true story about an orphaned leveret (baby hare) and the woman who raises it. The story begins during the author’s personal and professional disruption during the COVID-19 lockdown, which finds her back in the English countryside. She stumbles upon a leveret, tiny and seemingly abandoned, and makes the difficult decision to intervene and try to save it. What follows is a chronicle of the challenges of raising a hare – she doesn’t domesticate the hare, instead forging a relationship on mutual trust and respect. The book is a quiet but powerful plea for a more gentle and reciprocal way of living with nature. It’s captivating and heartwarming and what I believe is nature writing at its finest.

 Review by Natasha - Community Engagement Librarian

If you enjoyed Raising Hare, why not try these >>>

Three Wild Dogs by Markus Zusak

The Animals in That Country by Laura Jean McKay

Our Oaken Bones: reviving a family, a farm and Britain's ancient rainforests by Merlin Hanbury-Tenison

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

Our September film is ‘23 Walks’. A couple in their sixties get to know one another over the course of 23 dog walks. Set against the dramatic background of the changing seasons of one year. Bring a friend or two to enjoy this movie with you. 

Our next film session is Friday 26 September.

Facebook - www.facebook.com/haurakidistrictlibraries 

Instagram - www.instagram.com/haurakidistrictlibraries 

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

Phone - 07 862 8609 

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