A PODCASTING COMPETITION FOR ĀKONGA
GCSN, Christchurch City Libraries and Plains Media are excited to present Top of the Pods, 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 sponsored by Rockshop NZ and RODE Microphones!
Schools or whānau from across the Greater Christchurch region can submit a podcast episode (5-20 min) or snippet (<5 min) from teams of up to 12 tamariki in Years 5 - 10.
IMPORTANT DATES
Competition launch
Friday 30 May 2025 (Week 5, Term 2)
Submissions close
Friday 10 October 2025 (Week 1, Term 4)
Showcase & Prizegiving
Wednesday 22 October 2025 (Week 3, Term 4)
All podcasts will be broadcast on Plains Media so you can share them with friends and whānau!**
**Subject to podcasts meeting the broadcasting standards
Join us to celebrate this year's teams at our Showcase & Prizegiving event!
Wednesday 22 October 2025
5:45pm - 7:00pm (doors open from 5:30pm)
TSB Space, Tūranga Library
Pizza and beverages provided.
ENTER THE COMPETITION
Download these docs
Create your podcast
Check out the resources below to help you get started, attend the Libraries Podcasting Essentials school programme, or borrow the GCSN Podcasting Kit to help you create your podcast!
🎉 Submit your podcast 🎉
Once you have your podcast, blurb, image and release forms ready to go - Submit your podcast below!
Learn more about the competition
If you have any other questions please contact the GCSN: info@gcsn.school.nz
Check out the amazing prizes up for grabs
Lucky dip
RODE Microphones merch, pool passes, and more!
Create your own merch masterclass
A two-hour session at the Libraries for up to 12 ākonga with all the materials to design and print your own Top of the Pods T-merch!
Up to $500 worth of Rockshop NZ podcasting equipment for your school
Specialist equipment based on
your schools' needs
We will also be awarding spot prizes for best use of theme. The theme for 2025 is:
"How can we make the future a wonderful place?"
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 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!
Tom Linklater
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.
Meet our 2025 judges
Sinclair Gonsalves
Sinclair Gonsalves is the Marketing Coordinator at Plains Media, where he looks after all things branding and promotion. He also runs workshops with broadcasters to help them market themselves and their shows. A big fan of discovering unique music, Sinclair hosts 'What's On Indian Radio' on Plains, a show dedicated to introducing epic Indian music to the people of Aotearoa.
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!
Elaine Drumm
Elaine Drumm is a Libraries Learning Specialist at Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi | Christchurch City Libraries, where she teaches basic podcasting and digital design to primary and secondary students. She is looking forward to hearing how you use your podcasting skills to share all the interesting topics you come up!
Helena Avery
Helena Avery is the Project Manager at GCSN. She believes that digital technologies enable ākonga to express their ideas, stories and experiences in new and creative ways and can't wait to hear what the teams create!
Borrow the GCSN Podcasting Kit
The GCSN has put together a podcasting kit that can be borrowed by schools to create their Top of the Pods entry. Plains Media will coordinate use of the kit and can be contacted via email (info@plains.org.nz) or by phone (03 365 7997 or 0273607568).
If you would like to borrow the kit, please fill out the form below.
Looking for inspiration?
Photos from the 2024 competition
Photos from the 2023 competition
Te Kura o Ōpāwaho
Showing off their brand new team hoodies!
Matty, Pia, Sionainn & Gabrielle
Te Kura o Ōpāwaho