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New on the CCL website

Schedule of fees and charges [updated]

We have just published our new schedule of fees and charges. New charges will apply from Friday 1 October 2010, as from this date GST will increase from 12.5% to 15%.

Opukutahi, Banks Peninsula

Opukutahi was the name given to the most easterly point of the Maori reserve at Wainui and is close to the urupa (cemetery) Otutereinga. It is also the name of the whole reserve which extends from the sandy beach at Wainui, to the northern point Te Whatamako at Tikao Bay.

Fashion [updated]

September is New Zealand Fashion Week month. Christchurch City Libraries has many resources for the dedicated follower of fashion - books, magazines and web sites on the elements of style.

Learning music [updated]

Have you ever considered learning an instrument, or learning to sing or dance? This page lists music tuition options from community information directory CINCH and links to library resources.

RSS: Just Ordered

All the items ordered over the past week.

RSS: New Non-fiction

All the non-fiction books that arrived over the past week.

RSS: New Fiction

All of the fiction that arrived over the past week

New Titles September 2010

Our newly arrived titles across six genres: fiction, non-fiction, audio and video, children's, large print and young adults. These items arrived in August 2010.

LIANZA Awards

Book awards for children and young adults awarded by LIANZA, the Library and Information Association of New Zealand. Updated with the 2010 winners and finalists.

Dame Ngaio Marsh (1895-1982)

Internationally-renowned crime writer Dame Ngaio Marsh is one of Canterbury's most famous authors. She was also a highly respected theatre director with the University of Canterbury Drama Society. Updated to include the Ngaio Marsh Award, photographs and new library resources.

New Zealand Post Book Awards

The Awards ceremony took place on Friday 27 August - find out who the winners were.

*Edition - Monday 30 August 2010 - Writers gather for Christchurch festival

The Press Christchurch Writers Festival takes place from 9 to 12 September. We'll be reviews, interviews, audio snippets and photographs. Plus: * Read about the new Ngaio Marsh crime writing award * Programme co-ordinator Ruth Todd shares her picks for the festival * Read all the festival posts on our blog * Get set for free library events

Onawe Pa - Banks Peninsula

At the shallow head of the harbour between Barry's Bay and Duvauchelle lies the once fortified Ngai Tahu pa, Onawe. This Ti Kouka Whenau page has information on the 1831 invastion of the Pa.

Passion for crime writing [interview]

Interview with The Press Christchurch Writers Festival programme co-ordinator Ruth Todd.

Ngaio Marsh Award

This new literary award will be presented for the first time The Press Christchurch Writers Festival. Find out who the contenders are on the library website.

Skulduggery with Derek Landy

Derek Landy is the creator of the wise-cracking, skull-bashing, impeccably dressed skeleton detective, Skulduggery Pleasant. Read more about this author and the series on The Pulse Te Auaha - our website for teens.

Teen writing competitions [updated]

Writing competitions are a great way to get your writing career going - find out what's on offer for aspring authors.

Whitebait season [updated]

It's whitebait season - find out more about whitebaiting regulations and links to more resources at your library on our fishing page.

Scandinavian crime [booklist]

Bleak landscapes, bizarre, often gory murders and morose, dysfunctional detectives are dominant themes in Scandinavian crime fiction. Check out our booklist for top Scandinavian crime titles.

Library Week - 16-22 August [updated]

Christchurch City Libraries celebrates Library Week each year with displays and promotions, and by participating in 'NZ's Biggest Storytime'. Join people around the country reading Mr Muggs the library cat on Wednesday at 10:30am at Parklands and New Brighton libraries.

The Press Christchurch Writers Festival 2010

The Press Christchurch Writers Festival takes place from 9 to 12 September, and your library will be reporting direct. Find out more about the festival and the library coverage.

Local body elections [updated]

Local authority elections are held every three years throughout New Zealand by postal vote. This page briefly details the Christchurch elections, lists key dates, and provides links to further information and results.

Adult Learners' Week [updated]

Adult Learners' Week is a chance to upskill and get prepared for tomorrow by learning today. It incorporates International Literacy Day on Wednesday, September 8. Find out about all the learning options available at your library and in your community on this page.

Supernatural Romance booklist [The Pulse]

So you want love stories? But not those kissy-kissy sweet-sixteen ones with pink covers and hearts and flowers? How about a bit of supernatural romance to really get the heart racing. From our website for teens, The Pulse.

Oinako, Banks Peninsula

Oinako is the name of a stream near Akaroa. It takes its name from an incident that occurred following the battle at Parakakariki Pa. Information from Ti Kouka Whenua.

Okururu / Okaruru (Goughs Bay), Banks Peninsula

This pa was believed to have been occupied by fugitives from the Kai Huanga feud during the 1820s, when it was estimated there were 100 people living in the bay. Information from Ti Kouka Whenua.

Raymond Huber [interview]

An interview with New Zealand children's author Raymond Huber.

Oahoa (Oashore)

Ti Kouka Whenua - our section of information on Maori places of Christchurch and Canterbury. Names for this outer bay range from Oahoa to Ikoa. Together with a range of English interpretations it was finally settled in 1982 that the name of the bay would be Oashore (Go Ashore).

Nga Ka Kai Au (Robinsons Bay)

The old name for Robinsons Bay (after Charles Barrington Robinson) derives its meaning from an old fishing practice.

Nga Toko Ono (Fishermans Bay)

Nga Toko Ono takes its name from six Ngati Mamoe chiefs. One day whilst fishing two kilometres off Fishermans Bay, a nor’west gale came through and swept the waka out to sea and they were never seen again. The pa was renamed in honour of these six men.

The Hillsborough Tavern

One of Christchurch's well-known suburban taverns closed last year and the site has recently been cleared ready for sale. Written by Kim Morgan and researched with help from the staff in the Aotearoa New Zealand Centre, this page looks at the rise and fall of this landmark venue.

Maori Language Week - 26 July - 1 August

Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori - Maori Language Week celebrates Te reo Maori. This page has information on Maori Language Week and events at Christchurch City Libraries.

Motukarara - Banks Peninsula

Information and images of Motukarara from Ti Kouka Whenua.

Power saving tips [updated]

Find out some tips and explore some websites to help you save power this winter.

Football [updated]

Resources and links about football - updated after Spain won the World Cup in 2010. Now includes link to sports ground closures

Hockey resources at your library

Hockey has been a popular sport in Christchurch since the 1890s. This page lists hockey resources available at Christchurch City Libraries, as well as information on hockey venues and some well-known hockey players.

Literary films at the 2010 Film Festival

The New Zealand International Film Festival in Christchurch is showing some wonderful films with a literary pedigree. Here is a listing of movies based on books, or on the subject of writers. It has been kindly supplied by the Film Festival organisers.

Kirikiri Warea Pa (Menzies Bay) - Banks Peninsula

Information on the places of Horomaka or Te Pataka o Rakaihautu - Banks Peninsula

Mairaki, Banks Peninsula

Information on the places of Horomaka or Te Pataka o Rakaihautu - Banks Peninsula.

Celebrate Matariki winners announced

Find out who won our Matariki mask competition.

New Zealand International Film Festival

Information on the New Zealand International Film Festival 2010.

Film [updated]

Christchurch City Libraries connects you with film related books, magazines, reviews, websites and the movies themselves.

Audiobooks - a guide to our collection

You can borrow a wide selection of audiobooks from your library. Find out about the different types of audiobooks we offer and learn answers to common questions about their use.

Winter gardening

Winter is the slowest growth time in the garden, so it's the perfect opportunity to get stuck into preparing for the spring - reading up on planting or design options, or establishing the vegetable garden for the coming months. Check out our resources on winter gardening.

New Zealand Post Book Awards 2010

Our page lists the finalists for the New Zealand Post Book Awards, previous known as the Montana New Zealand Book Awards.

Winter solstice, the longest night of the year [updated]

The winter solstice marks the date when the Earth's axis is furtherest away from the sun - the longest night of the year. Find out more about the origins and traditions of the winter solstice with these library resources.

New Mobile Library Timetable Starting Soon

Media release: 16 June 2010

Matariki Craft

Media release: 15 June 2010

Matariki: A Time of Plenty

Media release: 11 June 2010

Celebrate Matariki and Win!

To go into the draw to win a Waikawa filled with edible goodies tell us which Matariki mask (created by Christchurch City Council staff) is your favourite. Masks are on display in the Christchurch City Libraries' Flickr collection, and at Nga Hau E Wha National Marae on 15 and 17 June, 5:30-8pm.

Snow days [updated]

A history of snow in Christchurch.

Kawatea (Okains Bay - Okeina) - Places of Banks Peninsula

Information on the places of Kawatea (Okains Bay - Okeina). Situated in a quiet bay/headland and on an offshore island two kilometres southeast of Okains Bay is the Pa Bay, Pa Island settlement area. This combined site contains two pa, two villages and a garden and is thought to have been occupied over a long period with the main occupation period being during the 1820s.

KidsFest Events

TV2 KidsFest is New Zealand's biggest annual children's festival. Aimed at kids up to the age of 12, there's nothing quite like it anywhere else in the country. Christchurch City Libraries supports KidsFest by hosting a range of events for kids from special storytimes sessions to writers' workshops and treasure hunts at our libraries and learning centres.

Learning Centres' July Holiday Programmes

We offer a variety of accessible, safe and affordable activities for children during their school holidays. Our programmes run city wide and are aimed at children between the ages of 5 - 15 years.

Kaitouna (Duvauchelle) - from Places of Banks Peninsula

Like other places at the head of the harbour, the area known as Duvauchelle has old Maori names not well known today.

Iringa Paraoa O Te Rakitaurewa [Places of Banks Peninsula]

At the southern edge of the French Farm bay Te Rautahi, sits a point called Iringa Paraoa o Te Rakitaurewa which means the "waving of the whalebone club of Rakitaurewa". A new article in the Places of Banks Peninsula series of Ti Kouka Whenua.

Skiing and snow sports in Canterbury [updated]

Canterbury is home to some great club and commercial skifields which offer many challenges to skiers and snowboarders. Mt Hutt, the Craigieburn Range and the McKenzie Country fields are within comfortable driving distance of Christchurch.

Intrepica

Intrepica is a play-based literacy resource with more than 10,000 activities online for children of all ages and ability. Children and parents can select from activities focusing on pre-reading skills, phonics, reading, spelling, vocabulary, grammar and comprehension in a fun, exciting and safe online environment. To use Intrepica you need to first create an account for your child or yourself. You will need your library card number and an email address. Your login details will be emailled to you at that email address.