Adult Literacy is a member Poupou of Literacy Aotearoa and operates two literacy centres: the Auckland Adult Literacy Scheme and the Glen Innes Adult Literacy Scheme.  Between the centres we provide assistance to over 250 learners each year.

Auckland Adult Literacy Scheme started operating as a volunteer group in central Auckland in 1974. In 1975 Auckland University professor, Marie Clay, received a grant to start an adult literacy program in Auckland from the Logan Campbell Trust. This enabled the new group to establish tutor training as an integral part of its operation. The organisation grew rapidly, becoming an incorporated society in 1984, and is currently located in the basement of the Freemans Bay Community Centre.

In response to increasing demand for classes from people in the Glen Innes area, a satellite group was started at the Glen Innes Community Centre in 1997. Two years later the group had outgrown the space available at the community centre, and was fortunate to link up with Glen Innes Senior Citizens. The Senior Citizens had a group that was decreasing in size, and were looking for a community group to take over the lease of their building whilst still leaving them with the use of the hall for their weekly meetings. It was a perfect match from everyone’s perspective, and Glen Innes Adult Literacy moved into the premises at Maybury St in mid-1999. In 2001 the group became an incorporated society. Sadly, the Senior Citizens group disbanded in 2003 and the literacy centre took over the whole building, where its main office is now located.

The Waiheke group formed in the late 1990’s. However during 2000 members of the Citizens Advice Bureau, Waiheke Island, noticed the high rate of literacy problems amongst their clients and approached Literacy Aotearoa requesting that a tutor training be run on the island. A trainer was sent out, and those who trained formed the nucleus of the present group. The group became an incorporated society early in 2003 and in 2009 became a  independent Poupou of Literacy Aotearoa.

In 2006 Adult Literacy Franklin became an incorporated society as a branch of Adult Literacy and in 2010 became an independent Poupou of Literacy Aotearoa.