Taumaranui schools kids got to play Judy Bailey and Richard Long for the day.

The Form 1 Students from Saint Patrick’s School are in Wellington for the week, and today they were at the Capital E Kids ONTV studio learning how the news works.

Teacher Kylie Gilbert said the students each had a role to play. "There were writers, presenters, camera people, a floor manager... the same as in a newsroom."

The students spent the morning learning how to use the camera, sound and recording equipment. They also spent writing their own news stories, including a weather piece

Once they had mastered the equipment and edited their new stories the students ran through a couple of practice shots before filming a 10 minute news programme. News presenters Hutia Edwards and Jeremy Newell agreed it was "great fun".

The Saint Patrick’s students are visiting Wellington for a week. In the next few days they are visiting Te Papa, the Zoo the Film Centre and Parliament.

Story by Rebecca Thomson
Photo by Emma Philpott