Te Maori: Ten million free books given to kids

Duffy Books in Homes programme celebrated 20 years of giving children free books. Photo/File

Could you imagine having the ability to make billions of dollars and choosing not to? Or what about having the character, competence, opportunities and networks to become an outstanding world leader who has the ability to make a huge positive difference in the lives of many people but choosing not to?

Mark Twain once said: "The man who does not read has no advantage over the one who cannot." Why would we choose not to read when we can, especially when there are many who cannot read?

I don't know about you but many of the opportunities I have had in my life have come through reading, whether it was a letter, note, text, email or advertisement someone sent me to consider.

There were also loads of articles, reports and books to read to complete qualifications, others for enjoyment and yet more for making important personal and business decisions.

Reading matters.

So I was pleased to see that on July 3, Duffy Books in Homes celebrated 20 years and gave away their 10 millionth free book. It was presented in New Zealand Parliament to Kawana Snow by Charles Ropata. The Duffy books in homes website outlines that they exist to break the cycle of booklessness in NZ homes and are currently working with more than 550 primary schools nationwide.

However, what is the point of receiving books if one can't read? If you cannot read you are not alone and there is no shame in that because every human being starts their life illiterate and just like any other learned skill we make a choice to learn to read or not.

Some of us are not even given the opportunity to learn and recent internet research tells me that an estimated 30 million American adults can't read a newspaper or fill out a job application.

Many have learning disabilities. Others are dropouts, victims of failing school systems and some are immigrants with deficient English language skills who may also be illiterate in their native tongues.

All of this makes the Duffy books achievement of 10 million free books into homes over the past 20 years even more admirable because at least there are 10 million opportunities out there for people to become billionaires or world leaders. You see, very few billionaires and world leaders are illiterate. They can read - and choose to do so frequently. How about you?

Ngahihi o te ra Bidois is an author, businessman, husband and father who lives in Ngongotaha. Read more about him at www.ngahibidois.com or email him at ngahi@xtra.co.nz.