Labour will make it easier for kids to get off screens and back to being kids, with more affordable after-school activities, healthier boundaries in schools and better support for parents to keep their children safe online.
“Too much of childhood is being spent on screens, while sport, hobbies and other after-school activities are out of reach for too many families,” Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said.
“Parents are struggling to navigate the risks of the online world, and young people are telling us they want action on harmful content and the impact it’s having on their lives.
“Labour is listening. We want kids to have more opportunities to get out, get active, make friends, and enjoy being kids while making sure they’re safer online.
“Our Kids Off Screens plan will give families more affordable alternatives, help schools set healthier boundaries around screens, and give parents better tools to protect their children online.
“Technology has its place, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of childhood. New Zealand is the best place in the world to raise children, and I want us to keep it that way,” Chris Hipkins said.
Labour's Kids Off Screens policy will focus on three areas:
Affordable activities: Boost funding for community sports and activity grants to make after-school activities more affordable for families.
Right screen, right time: Introduce healthier boundaries around screen use for kids, in partnership with experts, schools and young people.
Back parents to keep kids safe: helping parents make informed choices through accessible online safety tools and supporting schools to use technology safely with an education AI app.
The policy complements Labour's AI Action Plan, which includes reviewing existing laws to strengthen protections against online harm, supporting schools to use artificial intelligence safely, and establishing an independent online regulator.
“Keeping kids safe online isn't about turning back the clock or pretending technology doesn't have a place in our lives. It's about preparing for the future and making sure our schools, laws and protections keep pace with the world our children are growing up in," Labour education spokesperson Ginny Andersen said.
“Building on expert recommendations made to the Government in 2024, Labour will work with educators, health experts, and young people to get the balance right in our schools and kura.
“Kids need to be able to concentrate on learning, build friendships and develop the social skills that will serve them throughout their lives.
“Our children deserve a future where technology works for them, not one where they are left to deal with its risks alone. Labour is ready to take action," Ginny Andersen said.
