Guidelines for Writing Articles
‍ ‍Literacy Forum New Zealand – Te Kōrero Pānui Tuhituhi o Aotearoa

Literacy Forum NZ: Te Kōrero Pānui Tuhituhi o Aotearoa is the national journal of the New Zealand Literacy Association (NZLA), published three times a year. It is available in digital format and can be accessed by NZLA members or purchased individually via the NZLA website. Institutions can also access it through the EBSCO database.

Purpose
Literacy Forum provides a platform for teachers, researchers, and practitioners across early childhood, primary, and secondary education levels to:

  • Present current academic research findings and their practical applications

  • Present, explore and challenge best practices in literacy education

  • Analyse policies, trends, and issues in literacy education

  • Share national and international literacy updates, including reviews of academic texts

  • Review and discuss children’s literature, particularly from New Zealand

  • Report on literacy events and discussions

  • Celebrate contributions to the New Zealand literacy landscape

We welcome submissions from national and international researchers and educators. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Submission Guidelines
All submissions must be emailed to the Literacy Forum Editor at editor@nzla.org.nz. Articles undergo a double-blind peer review process, with two reviewers evaluating each piece. Authors will be notified if their article is accepted, requires revision, or is declined. Accepted authors will receive a digital copy of the published issue.

Originality & Permissions

  • Submissions must be original, unpublished, and not under review elsewhere.

  • Previously published articles may be accepted with proper citation and permission.

  • Authors are responsible for obtaining copyright permissions for any reproduced materials (e.g., newspaper articles, tables, photographs, book illustrations).

  • Ethical approval must be obtained where necessary.

  • Articles promoting commercial products are generally not accepted.

The use of AI is evolving. We accept that GenAI can be used responsibly in the academic writing process but is not to replace it. This publication will follow guidelines that align with New Zealand’s academic institutions and national policies. Some helpful websites on this are:


Required Submission Details
Each submission must include:

  • Author(s) name, affiliation and contact email and/or mobile number

  • A short biography (65–80 words) and a high-resolution portrait photo

  • The full manuscript, including an abstract (if applicable)


Formatting & Writing Style

  • File Format: Word document (A4 size)

  • Word Count: 2,000–4,500 words (excluding tables and references)

  • Font: Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri, size 12

  • Headings: Use bold for headings and subheadings

  • Spacing: 1.5 line spacing; leave a line between paragraphs (no indentation)

  • Spelling: Use New Zealand English (unless justified otherwise)

  • Acronyms: Expand on first use, followed by the acronym in brackets, e.g., Education Review Office (ERO)

  • Formatting Restrictions: Avoid borders, drop caps, highlights, multiple columns (except tables), page/section breaks, shading, and textboxes

  • Quotes: Do not italicise

  • Book Titles, Key Terms, and Works: Use italics


References & Citations

  • Follow APA 7th edition referencing style

  • For in-text citations with three or more authors, use et al. (e.g., Smith et al., 2020)

  • Visit university library websites (e.g., University of Waikato) for APA guidance

  • APA Referencing Style Guide

  • Apps like mybib can be useful


Images & Graphics

  • Place images within the manuscript with captions above (e.g., Teacher Mary Smith shows pupils a new book. Photo / Steph Dix.)

  • If submitting separate image files, clearly label them and indicate placement within the text if appropriate to do so

  • Provide a photo credit where required (e.g., Photo / Photographer’s Name)

  • Use high-quality JPEG images (original size if taken on a phone)

  • Name individuals in photos if they are a focus (e.g., Author Steph Dix, second from left, with a group at a conference.)

  • Titles for figures and tables should be italicised and positioned at the top (as per APA guidelines)

  • EPS files: Convert text in charts/images to outlines to maintain clarity when resized

(Please note that images can still be included if they do not meet all of the criteria listed above.)


Copyright

  • Published articles become the copyright of the NZLA for licensing purposes

  • Authors retain all other rights to their work

  • Any reprint requests should be discussed with an editor

For any questions or further clarification, please contact editor@nzla.org.nz.

Download PDF Guidelines here