Labour is promising to get tamariki off their screens and back into sport, hobbies and community activities, unveiling a new election policy aimed at making after-school programmes more affordable, improving online safety and helping parents manage the growing influence of technology on childhood.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has announced the party’s Kids Off Screens policy, arguing that too many young New Zealanders are spending excessive time online while families struggle to afford alternatives such as sports clubs, music lessons and recreational activities.
The policy is built around three priorities: making activities more affordable, establishing healthier screen-time boundaries in schools and kura, and providing parents with better tools to protect their children online.
More Affordable Sport and After-School Activities
A central feature of Labour’s proposal is increased funding for community sports and activity grants, designed to reduce the financial barriers preventing children from participating in organised activities.
Labour says rising household costs mean many parents are finding it increasingly difficult to pay for sports registrations, equipment, lessons and other extracurricular opportunities.
The party wants more children to have access to activities that encourage physical exercise, social interaction, confidence and friendships.
For Māori whānau, the proposal could provide additional opportunities for tamariki and rangatahi to participate in kapa haka, community sports and other cultural and recreational activities, depending on how the funding is allocated.
However, Labour has not specified in the announcement how much additional funding would be provided, which activities would qualify or how families would access the grants.
Healthier Screen-Time Boundaries in Schools and Kura
Labour is also proposing new guidelines to help schools establish healthier boundaries around children’s use of screens and digital technology.
Under its Right Screen, Right Time approach, the party would work with educators, health experts and young people to determine when technology supports learning and when it may be interfering with concentration, social development and classroom engagement.
Labour education spokesperson Ginny Andersen says the party wants to ensure children can develop the social skills, friendships and learning habits needed throughout their lives.
The proposal builds on expert recommendations provided to the Government in 2024 about managing digital technology in education.
Labour says the approach would be developed in partnership with schools and kura rather than imposing a blanket rejection of technology.
The party acknowledges that digital tools remain an important part of modern education but argues that their use needs to be balanced against children’s developmental and wellbeing needs.
Helping Parents Keep Tamariki Safe Online
Another major element of the policy focuses on supporting parents and caregivers to navigate online risks.
Labour says families are increasingly concerned about harmful online content and the challenges of protecting children in a rapidly changing digital environment.
The party is proposing more accessible online safety tools to help parents make informed decisions about their children’s use of technology.
It also wants to support schools in adopting artificial intelligence safely through an education-focused AI application.
The proposal complements Labour’s wider AI Action Plan, which includes reviewing existing laws to strengthen protections against online harm and establishing an independent online regulator.
Labour says these measures are intended to ensure online safety protections keep pace with emerging technologies and the changing ways children interact with digital platforms.
What Could the Policy Mean for Māori Whānau?
For Māori communities, the policy raises broader questions about access to affordable recreation, digital safety and the role of schools and whānau in supporting tamariki wellbeing.
Community sport, kapa haka, marae-based activities and cultural programmes can provide opportunities for young people to strengthen their connections with whānau, identity and community.
However, participation can be affected by household finances, transport costs, equipment expenses and the availability of activities in rural and lower-income communities.
Additional funding for community activities could help address some of those barriers if Māori-led organisations, kura and community providers are included in the programme.
The proposal also highlights the importance of ensuring online safety resources are accessible to Māori whānau and reflect different cultural and educational environments.
Details about the funding allocation, implementation timetable and specific support for Māori-led initiatives have yet to be outlined.
Screen Time and Online Safety Enter the Election Debate
With the November 7 general election approaching, Labour’s announcement places children’s wellbeing and digital safety firmly on the campaign agenda.
The party argues that technology should support childhood development rather than displace physical activity, friendships and opportunities to participate in community life.
The policy also reflects growing concerns among parents and educators about the influence of social media, harmful online material and the rapid development of artificial intelligence.
However, questions remain about the cost of Labour’s proposed grants, how screen-time boundaries would be implemented and what powers an independent online regulator would have.
For families already managing rising living costs, the affordability of after-school activities may prove particularly important.
Labour’s message is that tamariki should have more opportunities to play, learn, connect and participate in their communities — without families having to choose between household essentials and the activities that make childhood memorable.
Whether the proposed measures would deliver meaningful improvements in affordability, participation and online safety will depend on the funding and implementation details still to come.
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