Students hope to retain spot in literacy team

Cameron Peters (left), Amelia Cooper, Zoe Foster, Jackson Matenga and Connor Ward are trialling for the Napier Intermediate Literacy Quiz Team. Photo/ Duncan Brown.

Napier Intermediate students are vying for a spot to represent their school in the annual Hawke's Bay Literacy Quiz next Friday.

Two teams will join more than 72 students from across Hawke's Bay aged between 10 and 13 in an event that encourages children to read more and more widely.

Napier Intermediate deputy principal Louise Taylor said the event had become a highlight on the children's yearly calendar.

"They look forward to it every year and they get so excited about it."

"The kids love it and I think it is one of the only places that celebrates avid readers and makes reading important."

Year 8 student Cameron Peters, who represented Napier Intermediate last year, is hoping to make the team again.

He said reading was something he loved to do and he enjoyed competing against other schools in a social but competitive competition.

"I have a book shelf at home full of books and because it got so full I had to start laying them on their side."

His favourite novels were from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.

"They always end on great cliff hangers and then other times there are some really good bits of drama."

Also on the fantasy-fiction bandwagon is Year 8 student Zoe Foster.

She was in the team last year and is again hoping to show off her literacy knowledge at the quiz.

"I love it, it is so competitive and a real challenge as you never know what questions are going to come up."

The competition doesn't include a prescribed list of books and authors so students have to read as widely as they can, anticipating which books will be topics for questions.

Quiz master Wayne Mills, who founded the quiz 27 years ago, said if organisers gave students a book list it would be a test in disguise.

"We're increasing the reading mileage of these kids. They can't just read Harry Potter; they need to read everything from the classics, to the latest medal-winning books, to nursery rhymes."

Mr Mills, a former senior lecturer in the University of Auckland's faculty of education, was inspired to start the quiz after observing a lack of recognition for accomplished readers.

He said the competition recognised and rewarded wide reading of all the wonderful, brilliant books out there.

"It brings together like-minded kids from all over New Zealand and all over the world and gives them a life-changing experience."

More than 2000 students will be competing in 15 regional heats hoping to win a spot in the national final, in Wellington on May 28.

The winning team then get the opportunity to compete in the world final in Canada in June.

The Hawke's Bay heat will be held at Napier Intermediate School on Friday May 12 from 6.30pm to 9.30pm.