A Journal for Young Writers and Artists Toitoi is a quarterly journal of writing and art by New Zealand children, ages 5–13.
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With 100 pages of original stories, poetry and artwork, Toitoi gives our young writers and artists a real purpose and a wide audience. Toitoi can be read at home or at school and is a valuable classroom resource.
02/07/2024
Thank you to everyone who submitted their creative work for Toitoi 34. We have received nearly 2000 pieces of amazing writing and art from young New Zealanders. We are so proud of you all for taking the leap!
It is taking us a little longer than usual to read, consider and select the pieces we will publish. We hope you understand. We hope to send emails to those young writers and artists whose work we would like to publish within the next week.
Thank you for your patience. 💛
Pictures by Hany Kang, age 11. Toitoi 19
28/06/2024
Mānawatia a Matariki 🌠
Pictures by Greta de Walters, age 15
04/06/2024
The deadline for Toitoi 34 is now closed. Thank you so much to everyone who took the leap and submitted their work for publication. We are so proud of you! ✍
Pictures by Ruby Judson, age 10. Jillion 📘
27/05/2024
Have you read the latest Toitoi Quarterly Newsletter? Check out the link below to read about some of the highlights from Term 2! 🍂
Toitoi 29 has now sold out! Thanks to a recent stocktake, we have found a few copies of some of our early issues. Get in quick to complete your collection:
Calling all teachers - don’t forget our Story Search archive! Access gorgeous artwork and student writing exemplars to inspire your class. Check out the link below!
Pictures by Delilah Wake-Willers, age 14. Toitoi 31.
06/04/2024
Toitoi Hall of Fame! Over the last decade, we have published over 2,744 young New Zealand writers and artists. Congratulations to everyone who takes the leap and submits their work for publication. We think you are amazing. ✍️ 🎨
04/04/2024
Beautiful artwork from Toitoi 17. Ten-year-old artist, Jackie Su, was inspired by the changing seasons. 🍃🍂
26/03/2024
I Spy Toitoi at Time Out Bookstore! Thanks a Jillion for your support 📗📚
21/03/2024
Anzac day is coming up! If you are looking for some special resources, check out the link below for Anzac content from past issues, Anzac-themed bonus activities, teacher support materials and incredible recordings of Toitoi stories and poems by RSA servicemen.
Pictures by Alice Murphy, age 11. From the story "Anzac Day Lockdown" by Holly Connor-Kebbell, age 9. Toitoi 21
17/03/2024
It's Neurodiversity Celebration Week!
Toitoi has some amazing stories like a "A Life Full of Colour," by Scarlett Oulsnam, age 13, illustrated by Sophia Keats, age 12. And "Face-To-Face with Dyslexia" by Saria Darlington, age 10, illustrated by Taylor Cunningham, age 11. 🎉
08/03/2024
Our first Toitoi Quarterly Newsletter for 2024 is out now! 🎆🎇 Check out the link below to read about some exciting things happening this year.
Words by Angus Campbell, age 11. Pictures by Harvey McGee, age 12. Jillion 2 📗
29/02/2024
Submissions for the Elsie Locke Writing Prize 2024 are now open!
The Writing Prize is offered by the Elsie Locke Memorial Trust. It provides a wonderful opportunity for young writers ages 5-13 to develop an original piece of writing for publication inspired by New Zealand history and Elsie's work for peace, the environment, women’s issues, and our community.
Submissions can be any writing on a topic - past, present or future - that you think would have been of interest to Elsie. We would be delighted to accept writing in English or te reo Māori.
See our website for more information: toitoi.nz/elsie-locke
20/02/2024
Delighted to see Toitoi’s Special Anzac Issue in the shelves at Devonport institution BookMark Secondhand Books ❤️
09/02/2024
Happy Lunar New Year! Wishing you all an exciting year ahead 🎉🐉
Pictures by Misa Pham, age 13. Toitoi 33.
28/01/2024
Back to School! Wishing everyone a happy return to the classroom. ✏️📓
Pictures by Nina Balsom, age 12. From "My Couch" by Ali Jaber, age 12. Toitoi 32.
21/01/2024
Charlotte sat down with the Publishers Association of New Zealand late last year to discuss Toitoi’s journey and the value of using the journal in the classroom.
Toitoi Media publishes Toitoi, a quarterly journal of creative writing and artwork by New Zealand children ages 5-13. It celebrates the creative spirit of yo...
19/01/2024
Back to School with Toitoi!
Inspire your young readers, writers and artists in 2024. We will add a gorgeous Toitoi tote to any order over $100 until the end of January - stock is limited so get in quick! 📚
toitoi.nz/order
03/01/2024
We hope you are having a fantastic summer break - stay safe out there! ☀️🌊
Pictures by Micheal Ren, age 11. 'Scuba Diving,' Toitoi 31.
31/12/2023
Happy New Year!
We can't believe it's 2024 already, but we're excited for what's ahead. 🌾
25/12/2023
'The Road Trip,' by Mikaela Ring, age 12. Pictures by Ciara Donnelly, age 11. Toitoi 30 🚗
24/12/2023
Merry Christmas from Toitoi! 🎅🎄 We hope you all have a wonderful day celebrating with friends and whānau.
Pictures by Christian Lobb, age 12. 'The Naughty Kiwi' Toitoi 31.
21/12/2023
Yum... I wonder what will be on your Christmas menu? 🎄🍰
Words by Jack Gellatly, age 11. Pictures by Kaylee Ault, age 13, Toitoi 33.
20/12/2023
School’s out! Congratulations to everyone for making it through another year. Have a safe and happy summer holiday! ☀️
Pictures by Charlie French, age 11. From the story 'On Your Marks,' by Maia McIntosh, age 9. Toitoi 33.
11/12/2023
Last days for posting! Have you checked out our Jillion Bundle yet?
Get your orders in before this Friday to receive a beautifully wrapped gift to go under your tree! 🎄📘📗
toitoi.nz/product/jillion-bundle
10/12/2023
A huge shout-out to the PwC Foundation for taking Toitoi on Tour in 2023. We are very grateful for your commitment to literacy in Aotearoa New Zealand - your generosity and enthusiasm inspires our young readers, writers and artists. A special thanks to Naomi McRae, Nikki Ive, Elle Gray and the rest of the team at PwC New Zealand for making things happen!
06/12/2023
The Sapling reviews Toitoi 33!
Young reader, writer and artist, Charlotte Hainstock, offers her thoughts on the latest issue. Follow the link below to read the review 💛
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Christmas is around the corner! Our Toitoi elves have had so much fun wrapping your gift bundles. Have you ordered a Jillion Bundle yet? 🎅🎄
Order before this Thursday to receive your beautifully wrapped gift in time for Christmas! https://www.toitoi.nz/product/jillion-bundle
Kia kaha, kia kaikaha, kia auaha!
E tuhi, e te kaituhi, tuhia ki runga, tuhia ki raro, tuhia te here tangata! Tukuna mai ā koutou tuhinga! E tuhi kia kaha ai te reo Māori!
If you are aged 5-13 and have been writing stories, poems, plays essays or songs in te reo Māori, we would love to hear from you! Send us your work at [email protected] and kia kaha te reo Māori!
#TeWikioTeReoMāori
Anei tō mātou Ētita reo Māori.
Kia ora mai tātou, nō Ngāti Maniapoto ahau heoi anō rā kei Papaioea tōku whānau e noho ana i tēnei wā. E 5000 aku kōmeke, manomano aku pukapuka, hokorima aku tauira, tokotoru aku tamariki, kotahi taku makau, ē, ā, kotahi taku ngeru. Ahakoa e rua tekau tau au e tuhi ana, e ako tonu ana ahau ki te tuhituhi, ki te peita hoki. Kia kaha tāua tahi ki te ako tonu.
Introducing our te reo Māori Editor.
Hi everyone, I hail from Ngāti Maniapoto but currently live with my whānau in Palmerston North. I have 5000 comics, 1000s of books, 100 students, 3 kids, one spouse, oh, and one cat. Although I’ve been writing for 20 years, I’m still learning to write and paint. Let’s both be brave and keep learning.
Access the transcript for Darryn's video here: https://www.toitoi.nz/transcript
We Will Remember ❤ ANZAC Day 2022
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Written by Halle Faherty, age 10. Pictures by Maddix Kamo-Dawson, age 11.
Read by Ray Beatson, Devonport RSA
Check out our website at toitoi.nz/anzac for extra resources and activities.
Toitoi began in 2013 when I piloted a small journal of writing and art from the children at Vauxhall School. We called it Vox. The feedback was incredibly positive from teachers and students. Children loved seeing their work in print and were enthusiastic about the writing and art of their peers. Teachers were excited about having the journal in the classroom as a teaching resource.
In 2014, I invited Vauxhall School, Belmont Primary School, Belmont Intermediate School, St Leo’s Catholic School and Bayswater Primary to submit work for publication in the Vox Summer Issue. A copy was sent to primary and intermediate schools across the country in April 2015. It aimed to introduce the journal to New Zealand schools, call for submissions for the next issue and ask for feedback from the people actually in the classroom.
Forty-two schools from all over New Zealand, of varying shapes and sizes, in rural areas, towns and cities, were given a classroom set of 30 journals to trial. The feedback was tremendous. We received over 600 submissions of outstanding quality. Vox was renamed Toitoi to celebrate its national launch.
Of the 600 submissions we received, more than 150 were about the First World War. We were inspired to create a special edition of the journal dedicated to the Anzacs which was published in November 2015.
In August 2015, Grace joined the Toitoi team. Together with Kelvin and Sam of DDMMYY who oversee the art direction and graphic design of the journal, we would like to champion New Zealand's amazing young writers and artists.
