June 2026 Newsletter
- GCSN
- Jul 24
- 3 min read
Kia ora, Itiiti rearea, teitei kahikatea ka taea Although the rearea is small it can ascend the lofty heights of the Kahikatea tree GCSN are excited to advise that the Top of the Pods podcasting competition is back for another year🎉 read on to learn more about this year’s competition and how to get involved. If you have any questions or want to get in touch, please reach out to us at info@gcsn.school.nz or via the GCSN website. Noho ora mai
The GCSN Team |
Top of the Pods 2026! |
GCSN, Christchurch City Libraries, and Plains Media are delighted to announce that the Top of the Pods podcasting competition is back for 2026! Whether ākonga are first-time podcasters or experienced creators, Top of the Pods offers an exciting opportunity for young voices to be heard and celebrated. There are amazing prizes up for grabs including up to $500 of brand-new Rockshop podcasting equipment for your school, a Libraries “Make your own merch” masterclass, RØDE Microphones merchandise, pool passes and more! The competition aligns with both the technology and literacy curriculum standards for students in Years 5 - 10. If you are looking for an engaging literacy format, a meaningful project, or a creative learning outcome for Term 3, Top of the Pods could be a perfect fit. |
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Schools or whānau from across the Greater Christchurch region are invited to enter either a podcast episode (5 - 20 minutes) or a podcast snippet (under 5 minutes), in teams of up to 12 tamariki in Years 5 - 10. There is also an option for teams to enter our themed section: “Voting makes a difference.” There will be spot prizes awarded for the use of theme. All teams that enter the competition are invited to attend the showcase and prizegiving event on the evening of Thursday 29 October at the TSB Space at Tūranga Library, where ākonga can celebrate their achievements and share their podcasts with whānau and friends. We look forward to hearing the creativity, stories, and ideas of young podcasters from across the Christchurch region. |
Important Dates |
Submissions Open Friday 5th June 2026 Submissions Close Friday 16 October 2026 Showcase and Prizegiving Event Thursday 29 October 2026 (approx. 5:45 - 7:00pm) |
How To Enter |
To Enter, just follow these simple steps:
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New Auahatanga Mobile/podcasting offering |
Podcasting @ Your Kura Bring podcasting to your kura with the Christchurch City Libraries new Auahatanga Mobile van. Ākonga will take a practical, hands-on approach to podcast creation. They will learn essential skills such as using podcasting equipment and audio software.During production, ākonga will edit mistakes, import sound effects, and layer multiple tracks to create a polished podcast. This programme is a fabulous pathway for entry into Top of the Pods. |
Year Levels: Years 7-8 Group Size: Maximum 12 ākonga Location: At your kura within Ōtautahi-Christchurch.
Duration: 3 hours Days and Time: Available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 10:00am and 3:00pm to allow time for travel, setup, and pack‑down of our equipment. • Ākonga are to complete their script for a snippet podcast (2-5 minutes) before the session. Podcast scripts can be on any topic and may take the form of an interview, educational segment, storytelling, or similar format. • The Libraries team will share their podcast brainstorming flow, script template, and example to support the students learning before the session. • The programme aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum through the English (Oral Language) and Technology learning areas and supports the development of key competencies, including Thinking, Using Language, Symbols, and Texts, Managing self, Relating to others, and Participating and contributing. Feedback from a recent session Kaiako feedback: “The students have enjoyed listening to their finished podcasts over the last few days. Thanks for all your work with them, it really shows.” |
If you are interested in learning more, please visit the Kura Takiura webpage for more information. |
Other podcasting opportunities |
Podcasting Essentials - A Christchurch City Libraries school programme where up to 12 ākonga will learn the basics to create their very own podcast snippet in a fun full-day session. Sign up here! Podcasting Kit - The GCSN has put together a podcasting kit that contains everything you need to create your own podcasts at school. The kit can be borrowed by schools or homeschool groups across Ōtautahi. Register to borrow the kit here! |