Get into Games Aotearoa an amazing success

Digital Technology continues to outpace virtually every industry in the world and is one of the fastest growing parts of Aotearoa’s economy, generating billions of dollars in exports and creating thousands of jobs each year. The global gaming industry is now worth more than the film and music industries combined.

Yet in 2019 only 30% of senior secondary schools’ students took any type of technology standard. If this trend continues NZ will lag behind in its ability to meet the need of this growing demand and only 3% of Māori are involved in Game Dev.

Digital Natives Academy kicked off the 2nd year of Get into Games Aotearoa (GIGA) a partnership with the Ministry of Education has produced an amazing event which was livestreamed to schools across Aotearoa connecting with over 8000 students.

Get into Games Aotearoa is a unique educational experience that helps use gaming as a gateway to inspire young learners (years 7-9) into the digital and creative tech industries.

“We’re elated to be able to bring this event back in 2022, last year we received an amazing response and the level of entries into our key challenges indict that our young people are amazingly creative and their skill level is out of this world” says DNA Founder, Potaua Biasiny-Tule (Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāi Tūhoe).

Hundreds of schools around Aotearoa NZ will tune in from June 12-17 each day to watch a series of sessions on Twitch during school hours. Each session will cover a key theme.

Over 350 have registered representing over 8000 students and families. Schools from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South have expressed interest.

There is also a competition that challenges students to create their own characters, shoutcast a game, compose a photo and create a game. Prizes include an iPad, Procreate and Magic Pencil along with 3 Beats by Dre.

Kahu Bennett, a successful content creator, actress and model who is currently doing her MBA, and also one of the Get into Gaming hosts found the event vital to supporting young people saying;

“Events like Get into Games are critical and helps to provide real life pathways into digital and creative tech, through sharing the personal journeys of some of most successful game developers, esports players and creators NZ has to offer.”

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