Fewer adults crack a book
New research shows 442,600 adult New Zealanders didn't read a book in the past year.
The study, by Horizon Research for the New Zealand Book Council, found 45 to 54 year olds had the lowest percentage reading of any age group.
It also found that fewer Kiwi men are reading books, and books compete with television and computer screens for our leisure time.
The research follows a similar study completed in March last year, although this year's research had a wider scope, asking questions about how New Zealanders use their leisure time, to see how reading fits into everyday lives. It also explored different languages.
The 2018 study reports that 86 per cent of New Zealand adults had read or started to read at least one book in the past year, down from 88 per cent last year.
The percentage of female respondents reading has remained similar, but there was a decline in the percentage of male respondents reading, the Book Council said.
Of those who do read, the organisation said the majority read for relaxation and enjoyment and favourite fiction genres are crime, thriller and adventure.
The study also revealed that 57 per cent of readers of all ages reported reading books by New Zealand authors or poets in the past year.
Book Council CEO Jo Cribb said their vision is to grow a nation of readers and that the organisation will use insights from the study to continue to advocate for reading in New Zealand through its programmes.
“We take these findings seriously and will use them to inform our programmes and projects,” said Ms Cribb. “It's wonderful that New Zealanders love to read and to see that books remain an important touchstone in our society, but it's worrying to see how many of us didn't pick up a book in the past year.”
Increasing demands of society and work mean more than ever New Zealanders need to understand and apply information across a range of sources to function effectively at work and everyday life.
“We will continue to work to ensure New Zealanders keep reading, with a particular focus on our boys,” she said. “The benefits of reading are well documented. OECD research shows that reading for pleasure is the single most important indicator of a child's future success.”
The New Zealand Book Council / Te Kaunihera Pukapuka o Aotearoa is New Zealand's only national agency dedicated to reading. It runs a range of education and advocacy programmes. Visit www.bookcouncil.org.nz for further information.