Labour pledges $7m a year to get kids off screens

Labour has pledged $7 million a year to make after-school activities more affordable and get children off screens. The commitment was announced as part of the Election 2026 campaign, with the party describing the aim as getting kids "back to being kids" RNZ.

Labour said $3 million a year would keep the Active Me - Kia Tū programme going. Under the funding plan, a further $4 million a year would go through Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa, ring-fenced for community groups running after-school sport and activities for children.

Active Me - Kia Tū offers grants of up to $300 a year for two years to help children take part in sport and recreation. The grants can cover costs such as registration, uniforms and equipment.

Labour said its Kids Off Screens policy focuses on three areas: affordable activities, healthier screen-use boundaries, and helping parents keep children safe online. It said it would work with educators to update Ministry of Education recommendations for screen use in early childhood education and schools.

It would change education regulations to require school and kura boards to put clear screen-use policies in place, including when and how devices are used in the classroom. Labour said it would keep the coalition government's mobile phone ban in schools in place.

For online safety, Labour said it would make existing tools easier to find and use, including the free Switch on Safety filter and the Digital Guardian Guide. The policy includes supporting schools to use technology safely with an education AI app.