Our book-focused programmes help parents facing challenging times to build safe and secure relationships with their tamariki through the power of reading together.
Research shows that strong early attachment, particularly in the first 1000 days of a child’s life, brings social, emotional, and educational benefits for tamariki, their parents/caregivers, and the wider family unit.
Storytime Foundation is the only organisation delivering free books and resources to New Zealand’s most vulnerable families in partnership with Well Child Tamariki Ora/Pēpi Ora and Family Start providers, Ministry of Education, and Department of Corrections.
Working collaboratively with these agencies and others, we help to create a home environment in which children thrive, belong, and achieve. Using books, games, activities, and storytelling as a medium, our programmes foster stronger whānau and a better society, for today and tomorrow.
Thomas Bendall is a Chartered Accountant and Partner at business advisory and accounting practice Bendall and Cant Auckland and has been a trustee of Storytime Foundation for over 13 years.
Thomas brings his accounting expertise to play at Storytime Foundation as well as his passion for improving outcomes for vulnerable children and families.
James Frankham is a media publisher with experience in print, film, television, web and social and virtual reality media properties. He is the director and publisher of New Zealand Geographic and a board member of the Magazine Publishers Association.
James’ concern for vulnerable families and in particular, tamariki, brings empathy and understanding in addition to his obvious skills to the Storytime Foundation Board of trustees.
Qiujing Easterbrook-Wong is Co-Founder and Director of Cibus Foods Limited and Founder and Director of Borderless Productions Limited.
Qiujing graduated with a BCom in 1999 and a GradDipComm in 2000. She is passionate about social change and throughout her career has worked on projects improving outcomes for vulnerable people and children.
Qiujing is a Patron of Friends of Women’s Refuges Trust (FOWR).
Peter Hanning is a strategy consultant and systems thinker who has worked across the public and private sectors looking to improve outcomes for people, particularly Aotearoa’s pēpi, tamariki and rangitahi. Peter’s personal mission is to “make the world a better place and have fun doing it”.
Peter has a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and an MSc in Marine Science, is a stay-at-home parent of three, and is passionate about water sports, with salt water running in his veins.
Misty Edmonds (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Iwi United Engaged Ltd, a business formed to advance Māori health and wellbeing through the development of culturally informed and relevant research.
Misty brings over 26 years of experience as a registered nurse, educator, researcher, project manager, and researcher, working alongside Māori communities in Counties
I te taha o tōku matua, nō Maiama ahau. I te taha o tōku whaea, nō Ingarangi ahau. Ko Ngāpuhi rāua ko Ngāti Kahu ngā iwi o āku tamariki. E noho ana ahau ki Rewarewa, kei Tāmaki Makaurau.
Kelly has a background in family, whānau and sexual violence prevention. She currently has the privilege of working at The Auckland Co-Design Lab, focusing on shifting public sector systems to better align with what matters most to whānau. She is particularly interested in the role of Tangata Tiriti in upholding our responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and in supporting a Te Tiriti-centred Aotearoa.
Kelly is the proud māmā of Nikaurangi, Huia and Kōwhai.
Gilli Sinclair is a dynamic healthcare and non-profit executive with over 40 years of experience leading transformative change for vulnerable communities. As former CEO of StarJam and the Cerebral Palsy Society of New Zealand, she championed youth development and launched a groundbreaking clinical network with Paediatric Society.
Gilli is known for designing innovative, community-led solutions in youth health, mental health, disability, and mental health services. Her work blends clinical insight with strategic leadership to create lasting, inclusive impact.
She has also contributed globally as a founding board member of Make-A-Wish New Zealand and Pacific and former secretary of Make-A-Wish International. Gilli holds an MBA from the University of Otago and is a Registered Nurse with expertise in psychiatry and general care. She has considerable experience in non-profit organisations.
I've been involved with Storytime Foundation right from the very beginning, starting out with our Books for Babies programme.
Reading to my own kids was always one of my favourite things, and our house was full of books. That love of story telling has only grown over the years, and now I get to enjoy reading with my grandchildren.
Back when I was volunteering with Plunket, I was often heartbroken to hear nurses talk about homes where tamariki had no toys or books, and where caregivers didn’t realise just how powerful and positive reading and storytelling could be for a child’s well-being. So when I was offered a few hours' work with the brand new Books for Babes Trust, I didn’t hesitate to say yes.
More than 20 years later, I’m still here—now the Administrator for what has become the vibrant and thriving Storytime Foundation. I'm incredibly proud to have played even a small part in helping it grow into what it is today.
Ko Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi me Ngāti Raukawa (ki Te Kaokaoroa-o-Pātetere) ōku iwi.
Vicki is a registered Social Worker and holds a Bachelor of Social Work – Biculturalism in Practice, with more than 25 years of professional experience.
Her diverse career spans social work, case management, project management, health promotion and education with extensive experience across both the public and private sectors.
Vicki is committed to collaborative, culturally responsive, and evidence-informed practice. She brings a strong whānau-centred focus to her mahi to support positive and meaningful outcomes
