SPEAKING 4 THE PLANET
2026
Christchurch’s premier environmental public speaking, spoken word, and visual arts competition.
Open to students in Years 7-13 across Waitaha Canterbury.
SPEAKING 4 THE PLANET
2026
Christchurch’s premier environmental public speaking, spoken word, and visual arts competition.
Open to students in Years 7-13 across Waitaha Canterbury.
What is Speaking 4 the Planet?
Speaking 4 the Planet (S4P) is a public speaking, spoken word and visual arts competition created to provide opportunities for students to express their ideas for a better world.
With either the UN’s annual World Environment Day theme or one of the Sustainable Development Goals[a] as a starting point, students prepare and deliver punchy, quirky, creative and pointed speeches, spoken word performances, impromptu dramas or artworks designed to influence the thoughts, emotions and actions of the viewing audience and, of course, the judging panel.
Since 2013, students in Australia have been participating in S4P competitions. Founder and CEO, Phil Smith, created the competitions as a way of highlighting World Environment Day (WED), which is run by the United Nations Environment Programme. Phil invited Jocelyn Papprill, coordinator of the Canterbury branch of NZAEE, to bring S4P to New Zealand Aotearoa. S4P has been held annually in Christchurch since 2019 with the support of Sustainable Õtautahi Christchurch. In 2026 the competition became a project of Christchurch EnviroHub.
What is Speaking 4 the Planet?
Speaking 4 the Planet (S4P) is a public speaking, spoken word and visual arts competition created to provide opportunities for students to express their ideas for a better world.
With either the UN’s annual World Environment Day theme or one of the Sustainable Development Goals[a] as a starting point, students prepare and deliver punchy, quirky, creative and pointed speeches, spoken word performances, impromptu dramas or artworks designed to influence the thoughts, emotions and actions of the viewing audience and, of course, the judging panel.
Since 2013, students in Australia have been participating in S4P competitions. Founder and CEO, Phil Smith, created the competitions as a way of highlighting World Environment Day (WED), which is run by the United Nations Environment Programme. Phil invited Jocelyn Papprill, coordinator of the Canterbury branch of NZAEE, to bring S4P to New Zealand Aotearoa. S4P has been held annually in Christchurch since 2019 with the support of Sustainable Õtautahi Christchurch. In 2026 the competition became a project of Christchurch EnviroHub.
Competition Categories
Speech
Prepared speech, solo entries only
Spoken Word
Prepared poem, solo or duo entries
Visual Art
Prepared artwork, solo entries
Check out our information booklet for more details.
Competition Categories
Speech
Prepared speech, solo entries only
Spoken Word
Prepared poem, solo or duo entries
Visual Art
Prepared artwork, solo entries
Check out our information booklet for more details.
Participation Eligibility
- Participation in the competition is free.
- This competition is for school ākonga from Years 7-13 in the greater Christchurch area
- Each competition category is divided into three age divisions: Years 7-8, Years 9-11, and Years 12-13+
- Registration is a requirement. Schools, supporting caregivers/parents, or individual senior ākonga (Years 12+) will need to register before Friday 24 April by completing this Registration of Interest form.
- All who register will receive the information booklet with details of how to enter specific competition categories.
2026 Theme
- In 2026 the theme of the competition is based on SDG 2: Zero Hunger - ‘Seeding Change: A Feast for the Future’
To check out the themes and results of previous competitions please visit the Sustainable Õtautahi Christchurch website, the S4P YouTube channel, and social media channels – Facebook + Instagram
Inspiring Artwork
Take a look at some of the incredible artwork created by talented young artists in last year’s competition.
The very right to be human is denied every day to hundreds of millions of people as a result of poverty, the unavailability of basic necessities such as food, jobs, water and shelter, education, health care and a healthy environment.
— Nelson Mandela, 1st black President of South Africa
Participation Eligibility
- Participation in the competition is free.
- This competition is for school ākonga from Years 7-13 in the greater Christchurch area
- Each competition category is divided into three age divisions: Years 7-8, Years 9-11, and Years 12-13+
- Registration is a requirement. Schools, supporting caregivers/parents, or individual senior ākonga (Years 12+) will need to register before Friday 24 April by completing this Registration of Interest form.
- All who register will receive the information booklet with details of how to enter specific competition categories.
Inspiring Artwork
Take a look at some of the incredible artwork created by talented young artists in last year’s competition.
2026 Theme
- In 2026 the theme of the competition is based on SDG 2: Zero Hunger - ‘Seeding Change: A Feast for the Future’
To check out the themes and results of previous competitions please visit the Sustainable Õtautahi Christchurch website, the S4P YouTube channel, and social media channels – Facebook + Instagram
The very right to be human is denied every day to hundreds of millions of people as a result of poverty, the unavailability of basic necessities such as food, jobs, water and shelter, education, health care and a healthy environment.
— Nelson Mandela, 1st black President of South Africa
Timeline
Friday 24 April
Registration Deadline: Schools and individuals must complete the Registration of Interest form by this date.
Thursday 11 June
Visual Arts Submission: Deadline for all Visual Art competition entries to be submitted for judging.
Sunday 24 May, 11.59pm
Speech Submission: All Prepared Speech and Spoken Word video entries must be submitted online.
Friday 26 June, 9am - 4pm
Finals Day: Selected finalists will perform and present their work at Tūranga, Christchurch Central City. We welcome an audience – please pop in between 9.30 and 3pm to view the art and catch the performers.
Research is vital in preparing for this competition. All participants are encouraged to do their own research and respond to the theme critically, creatively, and with individual flair. Participants are to produce or present items that are original. Judges will be looking for a clear understanding of the issue(s) or challenge(s), and the offer of solutions or ways forward.
Participants give permission for images and videos of their entries (including performances) to be hosted on the Speaking 4 the Planet NZ YouTube channel and social media, and Christchurch EnviroHub’s social media.
Need more information?
Contact the organiser via chchnzaee@gmail.com or via our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/speaking4theplanetnz/
Supporters of Speaking 4 the Planet
In Canterbury, the competition is made possible through valuable support and funding from Environment Canterbury and local businesses.
Our partner organisation, Write On: School for Young Writers provides workshops to support those entering the prepared speech and spoken word categories of the competition.
Timeline
Friday 24 April
Registration Deadline: Schools and individuals must complete the Registration of Interest form by this date.
Thursday 11 June
Visual Arts Submission: Deadline for all Visual Art competition entries to be submitted for judging.
Sunday 24 May, 11.59pm
Speech Submission: All Prepared Speech and Spoken Word video entries must be submitted online.
Friday 26 June, 9am - 4pm
Finals Day: Selected finalists will perform and present their work at Tūranga, Christchurch Central City. We welcome an audience – please pop in between 9.30 and 3pm to view the art and catch the performers.
Research is vital in preparing for this competition. All participants are encouraged to do their own research and respond to the theme critically, creatively, and with individual flair. Participants are to produce or present items that are original. Judges will be looking for a clear understanding of the issue(s) or challenge(s), and the offer of solutions or ways forward.
Participants give permission for images and videos of their entries (including performances) to be hosted on the Speaking 4 the Planet NZ YouTube channel and social media, and Christchurch EnviroHub’s social media.
Need more information?
Contact the organiser via chchnzaee@gmail.com or via our Facebook page
Supporters of Speaking 4 the Planet
In Canterbury, the competition is made possible through valuable support and funding from Environment Canterbury and local businesses.
Our partner organisation, Write On: School for Young Writers provides workshops to support those entering the prepared speech and spoken word categories of the competition.