Kaitangata Primary School deputy principal Robin Siataga said the school had signed up for the Duffy Books in Homes programme, a project to encourage reading and increase the amount of books in low-decile schools.
The first shipment of books arrived earlier in the week and pupils were given their own books for the first time on Thursday.
The Duffy Books programme enabled every child at the school to choose two books to take home and keep, three times a year.
The board of trustees was pleased it was now part of the programme, Mr Siataga said.
The children were also "really excited" after seeing the first of the books arrive, Mr Siataga said.
Families of pupils at low-decile schools were often under-resourced.
"Not all of them can afford books."
The programme was "brilliant" and worth the return on the investment the school put in, he said.
In addition, the school received free books for its library.
The school also gave out "Duffy caught being good" books to one pupil each week to reward good behaviour, Mr Siataga said.
As well as the delivery of books, the Duffy Theatre group would visit the school throughout the year to educate pupils on the benefits of books and how to use them for research.
Now the pupils had seen the books on display, they could not wait to get their hands on them, Mr Siataga said.
