The Books in Homes project is to get a $1.5 million boost.
Education Minister Trevor Mallard said the cash injection meant some 260,000 new volumes would reach the homes of low-income New Zealanders, including 10,000 copies of the worldwide bestselling Harry Potter series.
"What's so good about Harry Potter books is that many children who have not been great readers have really enjoyed reading them."
Mr Mallard also announced an extra $256,000 for a research project to ensure ready-made literacy materials were used in classrooms.
Eighteen new schools will join the Books in Homes project, lifting the number of children in the scheme to about 65,000.
Before the announcement, Government funding for the scheme had been $3.37 million since 1996.
$1.5m for reading project
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