Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi Homepage

Featured

WORD Christchurch Festival 2026: 1 to 6 September

WORD Christchurch Festival is on next week — from 1 to 6 September 2026. Read all about events, writers, and get librarian picks!

Featured

WORD Christchurch Festival 2026: 1 to 6 September

WORD Christchurch Festival is on next week — from 1 to 6 September 2026. Read all about events, writers, and get librarian picks!

Featured

Featured

Join us for school holiday fun and learning

Come to the library in the school holidays for bookable programmes and free drop-in activities. Bookings open 7pm Thursday 27 August.

WHAIAO Exhibition: 8 August to 29 November

An exploration and celebration of Māori worldviews & the items we are humbly able to hold in our collections at Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi.

Celebrate the wonder of words with National Poetry Day 2026

We're running a poetry competition from 17 to 31 August for adults and under 18s. Winners will have their poem printed on a tote bag!

WHAIAO presents: The Art of Māori Zine-Making

Aug 28th | 11:00am - 4:00pm
This zine workshop is for everyone. Whether you’re an experienced maker and writer or new to the world of zines—nau mai, haere mai!

Featured

Join us for school holiday fun and learning

Come to the library in the school holidays for bookable programmes and free drop-in activities. Bookings open 7pm Thursday 27 August.

eResources

eResources

I want to research: eResources for deep dives and study

Access thousands of full text journals, discover primary sources, research your family history and more. Free with your library membership.

Talking Books Book Club

Join the Talking Books Book Club from uLibrary. This month's title is Black Silk & Sympathy by Deborah Challinor.

Libby Reads Book for August - Register for the Live Event

Join us for an evening of discussion with Emma Viskic, author of Resurrection Bay, August's featured Libby Reads title on Libby.

eResources

I want to research: eResources for deep dives and study

Access thousands of full text journals, discover primary sources, research your family history and more. Free with your library membership.

For Readers

For Readers

New For You - August 2026

New For You is a monthly selection of new books, topical titles, and hidden gems — chosen especially for you by our book buyers!

New this week

Every week we publish just ordered, new fiction, and new non-fiction lists. Find out the newest titles added to the library collection.

Arts and literature reading guide

Find fun reads that shed light on your favourite music, theatre or literature. Reads that inform and entertain just like great works of art.

Historical fiction reading guide

Recommended titles for readers who love royal intrigue, fans of sagas, or those gripped by the action in historical adventure.

New For You

New For You - August 2026

New For You is a monthly selection of new books, topical titles, and hidden gems — chosen especially for you by our book buyers!

New titles

New

Join the library. It's free!

Kia ora and welcome to Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi - join online now.

Just added

Just Added

Dahl-ing Reads

Oct 6th | 10:00am - 12:00pm
Dive into Roald Dahl’s heartwarming and quirky classic, Esio Trot. Then get hands-on with a craft and create your own tortoise.

Dahl-ing Reads

Sep 29th | 10:00am - 12:00pm
Join us for a read-aloud of Roald Dahl's classic, The Enormous Crocodile then create your own snapping crocodile to take home.

Papua New Guinea Pidgin Language Week

Halo olgeta. Papua Niugini Tok Pisin Wik - Papua New Guinea Pidgin Language Week is on from Sunday 6 to Saturday 12 September 2026.

Tāne Statue - 5-12 years, part of a series

Ever wondered how Tāne created us and all our creatures in between? Explore making your own taonga out of clay,bringing our stories to life.

Explore

Dahl-ing Reads

Oct 6th | 10:00am - 12:00pm
Dive into Roald Dahl’s heartwarming and quirky classic, Esio Trot. Then get hands-on with a craft and create your own tortoise.