Celebrating Aotearoa's Young Writing Talent

 

Do you have a passion for storytelling, a knack for uncovering news, or a talent for integrating multimedia elements into your writing? Enter this competition so you can show your talents.

Entry Details

  • Open to: New Zealand secondary school students between Years 11-13
  • FREE TO ENTER
  • Write a news story of no more than 500 words.
    • The story can cover any topic but must include an interview with at least one person.
    • The story can be submitted in te reo or English.
    • The news story needs to include a compelling headline.
    • Include original photograph/s related to the story, each with an accompanying caption and a credit for you as photographer.
    • Optionally, you may include an original video or graphics that you have designed yourself to complement the story.
  • Complete the entry form below.
  • Submit a shareable link to your story, or email directly to nzbsmedia@ara.ac.nz
  • Entries close: August 30, 2025
  • Entries will be judged by a panel made up of NZBS tutors and industry.
  • The winning story will be published on the NZBS MetroNews website.
  • For more information, contact nzbsmedia@ara.ac.nz

Terms and Conditions:

  1. Stories should be original, not copied or adapted from other sources, this includes any photographs, video or graphics (for publishing purposes).
  2. Entries open to New Zealand secondary school students between Years 11-13
  3. The story must be written independently, without the assistance of AI.
  4. Submit a link to your story via sharable link on the entry form. Link must enable the judges to download and view.
  5. Entries can be submitted directly by email to nzbsmedia@ara.ac.nz  

Judging criteria

Storytelling

    • Engagement: Does the story capture and hold the reader's interest?
    • Clarity: Is the story clear and easy to follow?
    • Structure: Does the story have a logical flow with a clear beginning, middle, and end?

Newsworthiness

    • Relevance: Is the topic timely and important to the audience?
    • Impact: Does the story have significance or importance to the community?
    • Originality: Is the story unique or does it offer a fresh perspective on a common topic?

Creativity and use of media

    • Quality: Are the photos/videos well-framed and properly credited?
    • Enhancement: Do the graphics, photos/videos enhance the story and make it more engaging?
    • Integration: Do the media elements fit well with the story and support the narrative?

Spelling, Grammar, and Accuracy

    • Correctness: Are there any spelling or grammatical errors?
    • Accuracy: Are the facts presented in the story correct and well-researched?
    • Consistency: Is the writing style consistent throughout the piece?
Topics ideas to get you started

Local Community:

    • Cover a local cultural festival or event and its impact on the community.
    • Explore how young people are contributing to their communities through volunteer work.

Global issues:

    • Investigate the rise of sustainable fashion and its impact on the environment.
    • Report on advancements in renewable energy and how they are being implemented locally.

Personal Stories:

    • Feature a student who has started their own business or initiative.
    • Highlight a unique project or invention created by students

 

Kaituhi: NZBS Journalism Writing Competition Entry Form