New Zealand author David Riley visited UHC recently and spoke to a number of students about the benefits of reading.

David was brought up in the multicultural town of Mangere in Auckland and is a teacher and a writer. He loves to talk about the benefits of reading and told us about some New Zealanders who have also discovered the love of reading, including Steven Adams, Ruby Tui and Richie Mo'unga. 

He mentioned that Steven Adams had to start reading to pass his school exams to get a scholarship to an American University to play basketball, so that he could then get into the NBA. He has earned over $25 million a year for several years now. That would buy a lot of donuts! 

David also told us about a couple of young boys from a few years ago who hated reading. One of the boy's mothers said he had to read one book a week before he could hang out with his friends and play sport and video games or do whatever he wanted to do in his spare time. 

Initially he chose really easy books and joke books, but then over time grew to love reading. He found out about wonderful things in the world and became the brainy boy in the class much to the surprise of his classmates who used to call him the dumb one. 

After a while he ended up not being embarrassed about knowing heaps of things. This boy went on to become a neurosurgeon and his best friend, who at first was also a reluctant reader, went on to become an aeronautical engineer.

David Riley told us to make the most of the free books in the library that we can get out whenever we want to. He asked how many other things are free like this? How many other things help our brain so much? 

David Riley has written over 60 books. The library and the English Department have many of these books. Go check them out! 

This talk was very inspirational. Several of his books were issued straight after his talk. David Riley gave a free copy of his most recent book about Israel Adesanya to one of the students who was asking good questions. 

David Riley challenged us to read one book a week- even if it is a very simple one, or a funny one, or even a book about rocks.

Will you take up the challenge?