Janet Frame Memorial Lecture: Fleur Beale

Friday, 25 September, 5.30pm - 6.30pm

The National Library of New Zealand, 70 Molesworth Street, Thorndon, Wellington, 6011 (map)

Register

This event is free to attend – please register to secure your place. This event is held at the National Library of New Zealand Auditorium – access via Aitken Street.

Can we rescue reading? Do we need to?

Esteemed, award-winning children’s author, Fleur Beale presents her 2026 NZSA Janet Frame Memorial Lecture to discuss the poor reading statistics riddling our population and how we can play a part in boosting literacy levels.

Beale will dive into research on the relationship between screen-use and reading, and offer possible solutions of how writers, readers and publishers can push back against the looming decline in literacy.

This event is free to attend, and will be followed by light refreshments.

All welcome.

Fleur Beale’s books are available at Unity Books Wellington, Verb’s Official Festival Bookselling Partner. Unity Books will be on-site bookselling, and Fleur will be book signing.

Presented in partnership with New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (PEN NZ) Inc, and National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa.

Many thanks to our generous funders, sponsors and members of Verb Community in supporting Verb Readers & Writers Festival 2026.