Free Family Day draws huge crowd

By MARGIE THOMSON books editor

The Storylines Festival's Free Family Day drew an astonishing crowd of around 20,000 to the Aotea Centre on June 9 for a day that buzzed with happy activity and enthusiasm, as children listened to or worked with their favourite authors and illustrators.

It was a tremendous event, and the annual festival has clearly become a great asset to Auckland.

It's both ridiculous and hilarious that over-zealous City Council traffic officials ticketed the Storylines Bus, parked prominently in the forecourt of the Aotea Centre.

Let's hope festival organiser Robin Houlker's begging letter gets her off the fine.