Children’s literature: A cultural bridge strengthening educational exchange between Vietnam and New Zealand

The “Little Hands - Big Maui” event, held on 05 December 2025 at École Nicolas in Long Biên, Hanoi, exemplified this collaborative direction. Co-organized by École Nicolas, TIMES, and the Embassy of New Zealand in Vietnam, the launch of The Story of Maui and Maori Myths created a multilayered cultural exchange space where the book was not only read and displayed, but also served as a gateway to an immersive cultural experience for children.

The “Little Hands – Big Maui” event at École Nicolas, Hanoi.

A distinctive feature of the event was the complete transformation of the school environment into a miniature Maori world, featuring Pania coral reefs, native forests, oceans, and traditional Maori motifs recreated in the artistic style of Peter Gossage, the book’s author and illustrator.

This allowed Vietnamese children not only to open the book, but to feel as though they were stepping directly into the story, meeting the demigod Maui and other legendary figures of New Zealand mythology.

Culture became tangible and accessible through observation, touch, interaction, and imagination, rather than remaining an abstract concept.

Nicolas students warmly welcome Ms. Rebecca Wood.

The atmosphere of cultural exchange was made even more meaningful by the presence of Ms. Rebecca Wood, Deputy Ambassador of New Zealand to Vietnam, who delivered remarks on the importance of Maori mythology in early childhood education and the role of indigenous storytelling in shaping cultural identity.

Her live reading of an excerpt from the book created a memorable moment of cultural convergence: Maori stories, a New Zealand voice, and the attentive eyes of Vietnamese children. The experience underscored the enduring power of storytelling in cross-cultural education.

Ms. Rebecca Wood reads stories to Nicolas’s students.

Beyond promoting Maori stories and culture, the event incorporated a charitable component. As part of the “Little Hands” project, the Deputy Ambassador and Nicolas students presented books to children from ethnic minority communities in Sơn La Province. In return, Nicolas students gifted Ms. Wood a small succulent plant, a gentle symbol of appreciation for nature, a core value in Maori culture, and also a representation of resilience and hope. This simple exchange reflected a spirit of empathy and meaningful connection between children of two different cultural worlds.

Following the formal launch, the cultural journey continued through creative activities such as coloring Maui characters, assembling mythological puzzles, creating illustrations, and participating in the famous “pulling the sun” game, an iconic episode in Maori legend. These experiences not only nurtured children’s imagination and aesthetic sensitivity, but also demonstrated how a children’s book can become a multidimensional educational resource, intertwining art, language development, and cultural knowledge.

The “Little Hands - Big Maui” event delivered a clear message: children’s literature can serve as a strategic cultural and educational bridge between Vietnam and New Zealand. When indigenous stories are brought into the classroom through creative storytelling approaches, they help children develop linguistic skills, symbolic thinking, empathy, and respect for cultural diversity. This foundation also opens pathways for future bilateral cooperation in teacher exchange, student interaction, and joint publishing initiatives.

As the pages of Maori stories reached Vietnamese children, they offered more than the introduction of a new book, they opened a door. A door bringing young readers closer to the world, nurturing the “little hands” of today to grow into confident, compassionate, and creative global citizens of tomorrow.

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