Students bring politics to life on screen with Pōti Party

Pōti Party’s two-episode election-themed news show aims to encourage young people to vote and to be actively interested in politics by taking a less traditional approach. Between the two episodes, there will be a combination of factual reporting, fun stories and mini-games, which all bring a youthful perspective.

The two episodes will air on Channel 83 at 7:30pm on 21 and 23 October, giving audiences the chance to see months of student work come together on screen. For the students, Pōti Party is about more than simply producing a TV show. The project has allowed students to step into new roles and gain practical experience in a live production environment.

One of the four presenters in episode two, Angelina Saunders, says the production has been a chance for her to try something new.

“This will be my first chance to be on camera. I haven't really done much of that. I've done a bit of theatre and stuff, but this is my first time actually being on a live production and being on camera.”

Editor Sophie Downes says she enjoyed the experience of learning something new.

“The structure of the course is quite interesting. It’s something new. I’ve never done a class like this before. It’s way, way more practical than anything I’ve ever done.”

While gaining practical experience has been a major part of the project, the social side of production has also been a highlight. Angelina says one of her favourite parts has been yarning with her fellow presenters, while Sophie adds that she liked getting to work with the script writers on the script collaboratively and the feedback process. This sense of collaboration has been central to the project.

Throughout the semester, students have had the opportunity to explore a range of production roles to discover where their strengths lie. From presenting in front of the cameras to the many roles behind them, every position has played a part in creating the final show.

Director of episode one Otis Smith says “It’s stressful but great; I’ve got a great crew and great presenters. Once we move past stressing out, it’s fun.”

After a semester of practising, planning, filming and experimenting, Pōti Party is finally ready to reach its audience. Before it hits TV screens, students and members of the community will have the opportunity to watch the production come together during a live watch party at the Tea Gardens on the Pukeahu Wellington campus on 15 October. Episode one will go live to tape at 10am, followed by episode two at 11am.

Whether you're interested in politics, journalism or simply want to see what your fellow students have been creating, Pōti Party offers a chance to see student news with an electoral spin.

Catch Pōti Party on Channel 83 at 7:30pm on 21 and 23 October, or at 10am on 15 October in the Tea Gardens on Pukeahu Wellington campus.