COMING SOON ...
A PODCASTING COMPETITION FOR ĀKONGA
GCSN, Christchurch City Council Libraries, LOOP (Papanui Youth Development Trust) and Plains FM are excited to present Top of the Pods 2024, a podcasting competition where teams of ākonga from across greater Christchurch can create and submit their own podcast, learn new skills, and win awesome prizes!
For 2024 we are excited to announce that there will be two categories for this years competition: The Future is a Wonderful Place and Open. Teams can choose which category they would like to enter.
Schools or whānau can register teams of up to 12 tamariki in Years 5 - 10 with each team having until the end of the Term 3 school holidays to create and submit their own unique <20 minute podcast.
IMPORTANT DATES
Competition entries open - June 2024
Podcast support & drop in sessions - Monday 9 September - Friday 11 October (Week 8, Term 3 - Term 3 school holidays)
Submissions close - Friday 18 October (Week 1, Term 4)
Prizegiving and showcase - Wednesday 23 October, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Join us on Wednesday 23 October at TSB Space, Tūranga Library from 5:30pm - 7:00pm for the Top of the Pods showcase and prizegiving!
Share your podcast with friends and whānau, meet the other teams,
and hear what the judges thought of your entry.
Check out the amazing prizes up for grabs
We will be awarding top prizes for both categories: The Future is a Wonderful Place and Open PLUS special prizes for standout teams!
Create your own tee-shirt masterclass
One two-hour session for up to 12 ākonga at the Libraries with all the materials to design and print a set of commemorative Top of the Pods T-shirts!
Specialist podcasting equipment OR A podcasting setup for your school
Specialist equipment based on your schools needs OR
One podcast recorder with two microphones and leads - a perfect setup for amateur podcasters!
Lucky dip
Pool passes, books, drink bottles, and more!
Meet our judges
Sionainn Byrnes
Sionainn Byrnes is a Libraries Learning Specialist at Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi | Christchurch City Libraries, where she teaches podcasting to primary and secondary students. Sionainn cohosts the Christchurch City Libraries radio show/podcast So Many Stories and is also a podcaster outside of work!
Pia Titus
Pia Titus is the Youth Coordinator at Plains FM 96.9 where she helps all sorts of people create their own radio show and podcasts - including lots of rangatahi and young people. Pia's top tip for starting your own radio show or podcast is to be yourself and find a topic you are excited to talk about!
Tom Linklater
Tom Linklater is part of the team at LOOP Youth Centre and a combination of a Youth Worker and a Media Producer in a range of creative fields. Tom has been running podcasting programmes at LOOP for many years now, and brings a wealth of experience in taking the simple, fun ideas that students develop to then turn them into balanced, impacting and crystal clear podcast shows!
Gabrielle Wall
Dr Gabrielle Wall has been the General Manager of the Greater Christchurch Schools' Network for five years and involved in the education sector for many more. She has a background in inclusive design, and believes in the power of digital technologies as an enabler of creativity.