A Journal for Young Writers and Artists Toitoi is a quarterly journal of writing and art by New Zealand children, ages 5–13.
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.
06/03/2025
If you are looking for special resources for Anzac Day this year, we have some awesome online resources drawn from our commemorative journal published in 2015.
Click on the link below to access teacher support materials, special bonus activities and some incredible audio recordings of RSA members reading their favourite pieces from the Anzac Special Issue. https://www.toitoi.nz/anzac ❤
Back to school! Wishing everyone a happy return to the classroom and an exciting year ahead 📚
Pictures by by Grace Dearsley, age 11. From "Blank Piece of Paper," by Caitlin Mills, age 12. Toitoi 34 📝
24/12/2024
Meri Kirihimete! With love from Team Toitoi. 🎅❤️
19/12/2024
Congratulations on making it through another school year. Have a fantastic holiday everyone! ☀️
Pictures by Sophie Drummond, age 14. Toitoi 34.
12/12/2024
Congratulations to Waihīrere Ngāhuia Hakaraia (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) who received her award for winning the 2024 Elsie Locke Writing Prize at the Te Kura | Correspondance School end of year prize giving in Pōneke. Waihīrere read her winning piece to the crowd. Pictured here with Elsie Locke's granddaughter, Jessie Moss. 📗
Find out more about the prize here: toitoi.nz/elsie-locke
10/12/2024
Last day for Christmas orders! 🎄🎁
Email the team at [email protected] before midnight and we will get your parcels in the post before we head away!
03/12/2024
Inspire the young writer or artist in your life with a Jillion, a beautiful hardcover book by young Kiwi creatives - 300+ pages plus ribbons! Order yours today at www.toitoi.nz/order. 🎄📘📗
03/12/2024
Inspire the young writer or artist in your life with a Jillion, a beautiful hardcover book by young Kiwi creatives - 300+ pages plus ribbons! 🎄📘📗
The latest Toitoi Quarterly Newsletter is out now! Follow the link below to read some exciting Term 4 highlights and browse through our Christmas Bundles ☀️ 💙🎄
Ho! Ho! Ho! Celebrate the young writer or artist in your life with Toitoi this Christmas. Journals, Jillions and Gift Bundles available at www.toitoi.nz/order. 🎅🎁🎄📚📖
Closing date for orders: December 11th.
24/11/2024
"Two Dunedin secondary school pupils agree having their work featured in a national magazine is a pretty cool accomplishment.
Freya Whiteside and Sophie Drummond had their writing and artwork featured in the 2024 edition of Toitoi..." 📗
Read the full article here:
Two Dunedin secondary school pupils agree having their work featured in a national magazine is a pretty cool accomplishment. Freya Whiteside and...
19/11/2024
In Toitoi 34, Timothy Prebble, age 12, has written a fantastic story about the Niho Taniwha with beautiful illustrations by Noelle Thompson, age 13. 🦎🎨🖌️✍🏻👩🏻🎨
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Contact The Business
Send a message to Toitoi: A Journal for Young Writers and Artists:
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.
