School Holiday Programmes and Activities

Our exciting programmes ignite imagination, foster curiosity, and create lasting memories. From captivating technologies to creative arts and crafts, our activities engage young minds, and provide a safe, inclusive environment for fun and discovery.

We offer a range of programmes including drop-in sessions and classes that require advance bookings (both free and paid options).

Please read our Parent/Guardian Agreement for Child Participation in Christchurch City Libraries Programming: Terms and Conditions.

What's happening at your local library

Free, drop-in sessions and events

Free school holiday events

Stationery Swaps

12 January to 15 February
Selected libraries
Stock up before school starts! Bring along your spare stationery and swap it for something you need, it’s all free.

Paper Towns

27 December 2025 to 31 January 2026
Selected libraries
Craft your own cool city! This is an unsupervised activity. Free, no booking required.

Secret Star

5 to 25 January 2026
Selected libraries
Fold up a little mystery message! This is an unsupervised activity. Free, no booking required.

Tuna and Ladders

5 January to 31 January 2026
Selected libraries
Make your Mānuka Stories game and race to the top! This is an unsupervised activity. Free, no booking required.

Free, Bookings Required

Free holiday events, bookings required

Little Listeners Lounge - 5-12 years, part of a series

Come along and find a comfortable spot in the library's dedicated audiobook lounge, to tune in to a themed listening session.

Brick your Book competition (26 January to 8 February 2026)

In conjunction with Imagination Station celebrate International Lego Day and Brick Your Book at the Library. LEGO prizes to be won!

Imagination Station holiday activities

Explore Imagination Station Holiday Brick School & other great STEAM-based holiday activities at libraries.

Online stories

DIY Wā Kōrero: Storytimes

Use library resources to make a storytime at your place!

LOTE4Kids

Storytime in your language! Kids can enjoy a digital collection of books in Languages Other Than English, including NZSL and te reo Māori.

DIY Wā Kōrero: Storytimes - Guess What?

Do a Wā Kōrero: Storytimes at your place! We recommend eBooks and eResources for home about Guessing.

DIY Wā Kōrero: Storytimes - Kindness

Do a Wā Kōrero: Storytimes at your place! We recommend eBooks and eResources for home about Kindness.

DIY Wā Kōrero: Storytimes - Aotearoa New Zealand

Do a Wā Kōrero: Storytimes at your place! Use library eResources to create your own Aotearoa Storytime at home.

Listen in! Librarians and authors want to tell you a story.

Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant, written and read by Gavin Bishop

Hear Gavin Bishop read his legendary Christchurch book Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant in the Edmonds Factory Gardens.
Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant, written and illustrated by Gavin Bishop. Published by Oxford University Press, New Zealand 1981. Reprinted as a NZ Classic by Random House NZ Ltd 2007.

Everyone Counts by Kathryn Otoshi, read by Elisabeth

Elisabeth reads One by Kathryn Otoshi, a story with a focus on anti-bullying and being an Upstander, with an introduction by the author.

Faitauga Tusi: Samoan Storytimes in Samoan and English, with Tiresa

Learn the Samoan alphabet and sing a favourite song!

Hello World by Paul Beavis, read by Amy

Amy is reading Hello World, written and illustrated by Paul Beavis. Published by Gecko Press.

Mrs Mo's Monster by Paul Beavis, read by Emily

Emily is reading Mrs Mo’s Monster, written and illustrated by Paul Beavis. Published by Gecko Press.

Niue Language Week story and song with Malo

Super Felix by Phoebe Morris, read by Bronwen

Bronwen is reading Super Felix - written, illustrated and published by Phoebe Morris

More online stories

Christchurch School Holiday Programmes, Events, & Activities

Find out what's on this school holidays for children in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
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