Many thanks to Vivecca Chatila Malkoun for making this video capturing the Blue Dragon Book Fair 2025.

The Blue Dragon Book Fair on 17 and 18 May in Wellington was a great success, raising $31,000 – all of which has already been sent to Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation in Vietnam to support its work stopping child trafficking and breaking the poverty cycle through education and training.

This was the 14th fundraising book fair in Ngaio supporting Blue Dragon's work. Trustees and supporters of the Blue Children’s Trust NZ are very pleased with this year’s total – another record amount – and are very grateful for the ongoing support and help from the community and our friends. 

Blue Dragon Vietnam is always enormously grateful for our fundraising efforts. Michael Brosowski, Founder and Strategic Director, says the book fair donation will be used to continue its work caring for children and teens who have been rescued from slavery and homelessness. It includes accommodation, food, psychological therapy and family reunions.

Michael has told us that from August 2025 10-20% of Blue Dragon's anti-trafficking funding for work in rural areas will be cut due to reductions in US foreign aid. Several people asked about this at the fair and made a donation with their purchases. So, as ever, donations to Blue Dragon are welcome.

For the first time, we sought help with the huge task of moving the estimated 1000 banana boxes of books from Kennards Storage to the Ngaio Town Hall on Friday. Thank you, VanMan Furniture Movers and Packers, for an excellent job done with a smile.

Our thanks also to the Kennards staff who were always helpful and supportive; the many supermarket staff who provided us with empty banana boxes every day for a month; the Interact students who worked hard moving boxes of books in the weekend; and Book Express and the Onslow Rowing Club who helped by taking our leftover books and some of the hundreds of empty banana boxes.

Finally, we couldn't do it without the many friends who help with the sorting in the month beforehand, with the set-up on Friday and during the Fair itself.  Thank you so much!

We share some favourite moments. 

Kirsty:
“My highlight is seeing the varied community we serve. I love the delight of readers finding treasures at bargain prices. Of course, this is in addition to thinking we can help the Blue Dragon programmes in a small way."

Sue G:
“I enjoyed hearing several people say our book fair is their happiest place and that the standard of our book fair is top shelf! A dealer told me it’s one of the best book fairs in New Zealand.”

Dinah:
"As well as seeing the pleasure on the day when people find treasures, I love the commitment shown by friends to helping with the pre-sorting in the month beforehand ... not only friends but an ex-boss, a new neighbour and an 84-year-old wife of a colleague who has helped enthusiastically for many years. We couldn't do it without these kind, motivated people.’

Alison:
“Realising that something we do to support an organisation striving to help people in dire situations live better lives also has a positive impact on our own community, enhancing people’s lives as well – both through helping with the fair and the pleasure of having access to affordable books.” 

Sue C:
“A favourite moment was chatting to a woman who came both days and bought about $50 worth each day. One day she focused on fiction and the other day on non-fiction. I think we could be accused of feeding people with a serious book addiction!”

Iona:
“For one month, a bunch of gorgeous young women from Port Nicholson Interact helped us pre-sort the books, stick up posters around the community, tidy tables over the weekend and broke down hundreds of banana boxes – all with energy, good humour and hard work.”