About Us
Our Story
Pānui Mai, Read to Me is a charitable trust. Our purpose is to inspire a passion for reading in tamariki, particularly primary age children. Pānui Mai provides a reading support volunteer service for schools to support tamariki who need additional support with their reading.
Our trained volunteers are at the heart of what we do. Each week they deliver fun, interactive, reading experiences. They provide one to one support to children, who need a helping hand, giving them the encouragement they need to switch onto reading, learn to read and become readers for life.
Our reading support volunteers give children a chance to shine; sharing, talking and having fun with books to help them see the point of reading. Their commitment and dedication helps to bring forth a new generation of readers with the confidence they need to succeed in life.
“Pānui Mai compliments schools and whānau, with the focus on developing kid’s love of reading, rather than teaching kids how to read.”
Our People
Adam Caccioppoli
Adam has long been driven by a desire to make a positive impact in our community. Adam’s unwavering commitment to Pānui Mai’s mission to foster a love of reading in all children, is rooted in a deep-seated belief that every child deserves the equal opportunity to a quality education so they can go on to be happy and achieve whatever they want in life. Adam’s professional background is in People & Culture and Talent Management.
Alicia Russell
Alicia has always been drawn to working with tamariki and throughout her work as a primary school teacher has seen first hand the importance of all children in New Zealand regularly engaging in reading. Pānui Mai has given Alicia an opportunity to empower children through this love of reading. Alicia has been in the teaching profession for over 15 years and believes this new initiative will ensure more tamariki are passionate about reading.
Andrew Dickson
Andrew has been working in education for a number of years. He has taught overseas as well as in New Zealand. He is a passionate teacher, and deputy principal, who loves to inspire and give tamariki experiences to enhance their Mana. Being a reluctant reader himself during his primary school years he can see the benefits that Pānui Mai will bring to the tamariki of Hawkes Bay.
Katrina Dickson
Trina Dickson, a teacher at Parkvale School, became involved in Pānui Mai due to her passion for the program's kaupapa. With a deep love for literacy in her classroom, she sought to participate in an initiative that supports children in their literacy education. Recognising the power of books in both learning and enjoyment, Trina is driven by the desire to contribute to opening the eyes of Kiwi kids, allowing them to discover the magic that books can offer.
Our Schools
Testimonials
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A Teacher
“The amount of time focused on that one student – the korero that happens and the child being able to share their own experiences and interests in depth without peers or others interrupting. The positive rapport made, trust etc and the quality of delivery made huge differences to these children selected to participate in the programme”
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A Teacher
“So many aspects of Pānui Mai have worked well for our students - allowing space and another positive relationship to form, blossom, and grow. Fostering the tamariki through their interests and needs. Being present and able to just chat or read for an extra few minutes - whatever the child needs to feel heard and supported. Improved confidence = happy tamari = engaged and learning children!”
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A Student
"I like that we sometimes get to play games like tic tac toe and puzzles. She makes reading fun by reading books with me. Now I read every night."