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!

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

Document

Entry Criteria

Document

Judging Criteria

Register your interest

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!

SUBMIT HERE

1. Introductions and Acknowledgements

Introduction and thankyou to acknowledge the mahi put into the Digital Technologies Implementation Framework.
2. Overview

Overview of the DT Implementation Framework three Documents. How to navigate through them and ways to use them in your school.
3. Coaching

Learn tips and tricks on how to use the DT Implementation Framework resource, and how to deliver it in your school or Kahui Ako.
4. Pedagogical Approach

Deep dive into Pedagogical Approach. Create a collective understanding of what Pedagogical Approach means by covering the areas of 1. Governance-level documents, 2. Local curriculum integration and 3. Digital Technologies progress outcomes
5. Professional Learning

In this video we take a deep dive into professional learning by looking at the four strands of 1. Collaboration and shearing 2. Professional learning model 3. Integration of Technologies across professional learning. 4. Budget and future focus for Digital Technologies professional learning.
6. Teaching and Learning

Deep dive into the Teaching and Learning dimension of the framework, and understand what Digital Technologies Implementation looks like across the local curriculum through the two areas of 1. Sustainability of Digital Technologies and 2. Learning Community Culture and a Clear focus on ākonga engagement and achievement.
7. Tech and Infrastructure

The success of Tech and Infrastructure underpins the success of the other areas in the Framework. Understand and learn to define what access to tech and infrastructure means to the project. Cover how to obtain, manage and maintain resources through the areas of, 1. Access to Digital Technologies 2. Procurement and Maintenance
8. Whānau iwi/hapū and community engagement

This video covers Whānau iwi/hapū and community engagement. Knowing which procedures to have in place across Kura or Kahui Akoto to make the most of community engagement and what it should look like. Cover the areas of 1. Community of engagement 2. Equity of Learning 3. Whānau and ākonga understanding of permissions and access.

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 image byrness_LThumb_edited.jpg

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!

Hear from Sionainn!

Pia image 20181217_192814_edited_edited.

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!

Hear from Pia!

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

Pia Titus

Pia Titus is the Youth Coordinator at Plains Media 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!

Sionainn Byrnes

Amy Chiles

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.

Download user guide here