School Holiday Programmes and Activities
Summer Holidays 2021-22
- We offer bookable programmes and a range of drop-in holiday activities at libraries.
- Want to do crafts and activities at home in the holidays? Check our online Holiday Activities.
- Explore more holiday events and activities on in Christchurch for kids.
COVID-19 Protection Framework - Current 12-01-22
-
- Green
- Vaccine certificates - My Vaccine Pass required to attend programming/events/classes/venue hire (ages 12 years +)
- Scan/sign in
- Masks required
- Orange & Red
- Vaccine certificates - My Vaccine Pass required to enter library & attend programming/evens/classes/venue hire (ages 12 years +)
- Under 12 year olds must be accompanied by an adult/caregiver due to the need to scan in using the NZ Covid Tracer app or to sign in using a paper slip, so that their visit is recorded
- Scan/sign in
- Masks required
- For full details please visit Christchurch City Libraries Coronavirus information, opens a new window
Paid Programmes - Bookings Required
Important information:
*Age range/restrictions - Please make sure your child meets the age range/restrictions for the programme. Bookings received that do not meet these restrictions will be cancelled and refunded.
Consent Form (required) - We require an online consent form to be completed for every child attending our programming. We only require one form per child per calendar year. Please complete your required Consent Form or follow the link during the booking process.
Cancellations/refunds - Cancellations are available at any time. Refunds are only available if requested 48 hours prior to the event commencing.
Sold Out? - Join Waitlist
Some programmes have a limited waitlist. To check if waitlist places are still available, click the "Book online link".
Programme Evaluation
In order to continually improve our service and the programmes that we offer, your evaluation of the sessions that you have recently attended is invaluable to us. Please complete our online form to provide us with feedback.
Make your Own Stamp
Design, cut and create your very own personalised stamp, using an iPad and laser cutter. You'll also make stamping accessories and get to collect and share designs with your friends.
 5 to 10 years |
 Book online |
 $26.74 per child, includes booking fee |
South
Friday 21 January 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Book online
Tūranga
Wednesday 19 January 1.30pm to 3.30pm CANCELLED
Tuesday 25 January 10am to 12noon CANCELLED
Book online
View all the sessions in the events calendar
Sold Out? Join Waitlist
There is a limited waitlist available for these programmes. To check if waitlist places are still available, click on the "Book online link" above.
Wall Art Wonder
Wow your friends and family with your very own masterpiece! Using our digital equipment, you'll draw and print your own design onto fabric and make a magnetic hanger to display it from.
| 5 to 10 years |
| Book online |
| $21.49 per child, includes booking fee |
South
Friday 28 January 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Book online
View all the sessions in the events calendar
Sold Out? Join Waitlist
There is a limited waitlist available for these programmes. To check if waitlist places are still available, click on the "Book online link" above.
Hot Wheels Frenzy
Learn about construction and physics while playing with mini cars! You'll get to reverse engineer your very own Hot Wheels equipment and take turns building tracks to challenge and race your friends.
| 6 to 9 years |
| Book online |
| $21.49 per child, includes booking fee |
New Brighton
Monday 17 January 10am to 12noon
Book online
Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre
Tuesday 25 January 10am to 12noon CANCELLED
Book online
View all the sessions in the events calendar
Sold Out? Join Waitlist
There is a limited waitlist available for these programmes. To check if waitlist places are still available, click on the "Book online link" above.
Minecraft Fun
Learn through play as you explore, build and interact with others inside a virtual world. To really enjoy this programme you'll need to have a basic understanding of Minecraft.
| 8 to 12 years |
| Book online |
| $10.99 per child, includes booking fee |
New Brighton
Monday 17 January, 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Book online
South
Friday 21 January 10am to 12noon - SOLD OUT
Friday 28 January 10am to 12noon
Book online
Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre
Monday 17 January 10am to 12noon
Book online
Tūranga
Wednesday 19 January 10am to 12noon - SOLD OUT
Tuesday 25 January 1.30pm to 3.30pm CANCELLED
Book online
Upper Riccarton
Thursday 27 January 1.30pm to 3.30pm - SOLD OUT
Book online
View all the sessions in the events calendar
Sold Out? Join Waitlist
There is a limited waitlist available for these programmes. To check if waitlist places are still available, click on the "Book online link" above.
Sound Trek
Do you love music and like the idea of making your own using an iPad?
Pitched at beginner level and using GarageBand, you can make your own soundtracks to match our awesome themed video clips of space, nature and cats.
| 9 to 12 years |
| Book online |
| $16.24 per child, includes booking fee |
Upper Riccarton
Thursday 20 January 10am to 12.30pm
Thursday 27 January 10am to 12.30pm
Book online
View all the sessions in the events calendar
Sold Out? Join Waitlist
There is a limited waitlist available for these programmes. To check if waitlist places are still available, click on the "Book online link" above.
Love That Book T-shirt Design
Create a T-shirt design of your favourite book. Use direct-to-Garment printer to transform either a handmade or digital design into a one-of-a-kind T-shirt celebrating your favourite literary moment. BYO washed white cotton T-Shirt.
| 12+ years |
| Book online |
| $26.74 per child, includes booking fee |
South
Tuesday 18 January 12noon to 2.30pm
Book online
Sold Out? Join Waitlist
There is a limited waitlist available for these programmes. To check if waitlist places are still available, click on the "Book online link" above.
Imagination Station holiday activities
Holiday Activities
Free Programmes
These programmes are free, but bookings are required.
Blake NZ-VR Underwater Experience
In 2022, Christchurch City Libraries will be partnering with BLAKE to deliver the NZ-VR programme throughout schools in Christchurch and Canterbury.
About the NZ-VR programme
Wearing a VR headset, participants explore the underwater world through 360˚ videos that compare pristine marine environments with damaged ones. They will learn about what causes these environments to become damaged, and what actions can be taken to protect our oceans. Participants will come away from the session with a much deeper sense and understanding of kaitiakitanga.
Before we begin on this endeavour, we would like to offer a number of trial sessions free of charge in the January school holidays.
We would love to get feedback from children to see how we can make this the best programme possible for our schools here in Otautahi, and invite you to bring your children along to this immersive educational experience.
Your child must be at least eight years old to participate in this experience, and bookings will be required. We have several sessions all with limited capacity so register now! use link under registration information
If you want to find out more information about the BLAKE NZ-VR programme, please follow this link: https://www.blakenz.org/programmes/blake-nz-vr/
| 8 to 15 years |
| Book online |
| $FREE |
South
Monday 24 January 10:30am to 11:30am - SOLD OUT
Book online
Wednesday 26 January
- 9:00am to 10:00am
- 10:15am to 11:15am
- 11:30am to 12:30pm
- 1:00pm to 2:00pm - SOLD OUT
- 2:30pm to 3:30pm
Book online (choose your date and time)
View all the sessions in the events calendar
Sold Out? Join Waitlist
There is a limited waitlist available for these programmes. To check if waitlist places are still available, click on the "Book online link" above.
Librarian for a Morning - Junior - 5-8 years - SOLD OUT
Want to be a librarian for a morning? Love books and reading? Come and see what happens behind the scenes at your local library. Learn how to sort and shelve, use the catalogue, share stories and many other wonderful things our librarians do!
| 5 to 8 years |
| Book online |
| $FREE |
Fendalton
Friday 14 January 9am to 12noon
Book online - SOLD OUT
South
Friday 21 January 9am to 12noon
Book online - SOLD OUT
Tūranga
Tuesday 18 January 9.30am to 12:30pm
Book online - SOLD OUT
View all the sessions in the events calendar
Sold Out? Join Waitlist
There is a limited waitlist available for these programmes. To check if waitlist places are still available, click on the "Book online link" above.
Librarian for a Morning - Intermediate - 9-12 years - SOLD OUT
Want to be a librarian for a morning? Love books and reading? Come and see what happens behind the scenes at your local library. Learn how to sort and shelve, use the catalogue, share stories and many other wonderful things our librarians do!
| 9 to 12 years |
| Book online |
| $FREE |
Fendalton
Friday 21 January 9am to 12noon
Book online - SOLD OUT
Tūranga
Thursday 20 January 9.30am to 12.30pm
Book online - SOLD OUT
View all the sessions in the events calendar
Sold Out? Join Waitlist
There is a limited waitlist available for these programmes. To check if waitlist places are still available, click on the "Book online link" above.
Monster Pen-pal Postcard Swap - 7-12 years
We've teamed up with the Ministry for Stories to help the world's monsters to combat their holiday boredom.
The global pandemic has meant that worldwide, monsters are finding it much more challenging to travel abroad unnoticed. So, they are keen to find out what humans are doing during their holidays. We've received a number of postcards from monsters who are seeking a human pen-pal to swap postcards. We need you to design a postcard and tell your chosen monster about your holiday. We will post your postcards through our monster mail postal service and contact you when your monster sends their reply back to us - just in time to lift your spirits as you before you return to school!
Literacy skills required
| 7 to 12 years |
| Book online |
| $FREE |
Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre
Thursday 20 January 2pm to 3pm
Book online
Sold Out? Join Waitlist
There is a limited waitlist available for these programmes. To check if waitlist places are still available, click on the "Book online link" above.
Toi Whakarākei - Māori Decorating Crafts
Looking for something new to wear back to school? Come and create some badges using Māori designs and images with kīwaha – Māori sayings.
Original, authentic and fun to try, while strengthening your Māori Language skills.
Nau mai, tauti mai – all welcome
| 12 -16 years |
| Book online |
| $FREE |
Linwood
Thursday 3 February 10.30am to 11.30am
Book online
Upper Riccarton
Thursday 27 January 10.30am to 11.30am
Book online
View all the sessions in the events calendar
Sold Out? Join Waitlist
There is a limited waitlist available for these programmes. To check if waitlist places are still available, click on the "Book online link" above.
Sherlock Holmes Investigates - SOLD OUT
Do you want to be a detective? Celebrate Sherlock Holmes with forensic science experiments and see if you can solve the crime!
| 8 to 13 years |
| Book online |
| $FREE |
South
Wednesday 19 January 2pm to 3.30pm -SOLD OUT
Friday 28 January 2pm to 3.30pm - SOLD OUT
Book online
View all the sessions in the events calendar
Sold Out? Join Waitlist
There is a limited waitlist available for these programmes. To check if waitlist places are still available, click on the "Book online link" above.
School holiday drop-in fun
Meri Kirihimete - Christmas Cards
Enjoy Christmas waiata while making te reo Māori Christmas cards for your friends and whānau.
Matuku Takotako Sumner Centre
Friday 17 December 10.30am to 11.30am and 1pm to 2pm
Ōrauwhata Bishopdale
Thursday 23 December 10.30am to 11.30am and 1pm to 2pm
Redwood
Tuesday 21 December 10.30am to 11.30am and 1pm to 2pm
Tūranga
Wednesday 15 December 10.30am to 11.30am and 1pm to 2pm
View all the sessions in the events calendar
Pasifika Christmas Stocking
Come and join in making your very own mini Pasifika Christmas stocking. These mini Pasifika stocking decorations can be placed on your very own Christmas tree.
Hornby
Tuesday 14 December 3pm to 4pm
Linwood
Thursday 16 December 3.30pm to 4.30pm
Te Hapua: Halswell Centre
Saturday 18 December 11am to 2pm
View all the sessions in the events calendar
O Christmas Tree
Fold a festive forest!
Find out where and when.
Tech Drop-in
Have a go with a variety of fun and playful technologies like robotics, coding, and other creative applications with our friendly staff helping.
Technologies change depending on the day.
7 -14 years
Redwood
Wednesday 19 January 1pm to 2:30pm
Upper Riccarton
Thursday 27 January 1pm to 2.30pm
View all the sessions in the events calendar
Handmade Bookmarks
Make your mark and mark your place with a personalised bookmark.
Find out where and when.
Under the sea diorama
What can you see under the sea? Create your own under the sea scene!
Find out where and when.
Paper, wire, rock - DIY Photo holder
Rock your photos with a DIY holder!
Find out where and when.
Summer Sparkles! Ōtautahi Holiday Trail
18 December 2021 to 30 January 2022
Celebrate summer with our popular Summer Sparkles! Ōtautahi Holiday Trail - a partnership between Tūranga, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, Canterbury Museum and Christchurch Botanic Gardens.
Ōtautahi Christchurch is a great place to soak up the sunshine and explore. Follow the map, complete the activities, get a stamp from each venue and, at the end of the trail, be treated to a Deep South ice-cream from The Thirsty Peacock (available from Monday 20 December 2021 to Sunday 30 January 2022). Karawhiua! Go for it!
Collect your free booklet from any of the participating venues, while stocks last!
![Download the Summer Soarkles booklet [4MB PDF]](https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/12/Summer-Sparkles-Turanga-1920x1080-1.jpg)
Conditions for bookable Learning Centre holiday programmes
Note: A Consent Form is required to be completed by the child and a parent/caregiver for all learning centre after school and holiday programmes.
- Payment is required at the time of booking, using a debit or credit card.
- A minimum of 48 hours’ notice is required for cancellations. After this time the programme cost in non-refundable.
- A Consent Form is required to be completed by the child and a parent/caregiver.
- Drop off and pick up times are 10 minutes prior to the advertised programme times. We are not responsible for your children outside of these hours.
- If your child is absent or running late, please telephone us 03-941-7923.
- Please do not bring along an unwell child to the programme.
- Children must meet the advertised age range/restrictions. Bookings received outside of theses advertised age range/restrictions will be cancelled and refunded.
Programme Evaluation
In order to continually improve our service and the programmes that we offer, your evaluation of the sessions that you have recently attended is invaluable to us. Please complete our online form to provide us with feedback.
More school holiday info
- See all library school holiday events
- Find more ideas for holiday events and activities
