15 Apr 2025

Auckland school parents' group launches no smartphone initiative

From Nine To Noon, 10:30 am on 15 April 2025
primary education, friendship, childhood, technology and people concept - group of happy elementary school students with smartphones and backpacks sitting on bench outdoors

Photo: lev dolgachov

A group of parents at an Auckland School is on a mission to make it a smartphone free school - and has 100 families signed up. 

Esther Roberts is the mum of two children at Balmoral School - which goes up to year 8.

She's founded Unplugged Together Balmoral, which encourages other families to delay giving their children a smartphone until at least Year 9.

She tells Kathryn they're getting good support so far and it's so much easier to do when it's a group effort.

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