The New Zealand Book Council is a not-for-profit organisation that presents a wide range of programmes that promote books and reading.
It was established in 1972 as a response to UNESCO's International Book Year.
The Book Council is based in Wellington and runs a public events programme that takes New Zealand and international writers to venues around the country.
It also runs a programme called Writers in Schools which takes New Zealand writers and illustrators into schools throughout the country. School students who live in geographically isolated areas can also speak to writers through a programme called WordSpace, which is a series of video-conferences between writers and students held annually.
The Book Council produces a comprehensive online database of New Zealand writers, and a quarterly magazine, Booknotes, which is sent to all members.