This year we celebrated 40 years of both literacy and language assistance to the community in Tauranga/Western BOP.

We are very proud of the figures: between us we have reached over 6,000 learners and trained over 2,300 tutors since 1977.

Ruby red decorations, red velvet cake, guests from across the years all wearing something red, nibbles, drinks, and speeches marked the fortieth celebrations of adult literacy and language services in the Bay of Plenty. An animated quiz with seven teams facing off over seven rounds of questions resulted in some good natured competition with The Red Angels winning by one point. On display among the old photos and newspapers clippings was the original handwritten minutes which recorded the efforts of a small committed bunch of volunteers who formed Literacy Tauranga. The service, set up to teach reading and writing skills to adults, soon extended to newcomers with English as a second language.

Two national organisations continue the teaching work today (English Language Partners and Literacy Aotearoa); the managers and Chief Executives of each spoke about the over 6,000 learners supported to achieve their goals through the work of volunteers and teachers.