Research commissioned by InternetNZ shows that 92% of New Zealanders are concerned about children accessing inappropriate content online and potential bullying. Although this is a top concern the overwhelming majority of those surveyed (9/10) felt that the benefits of using the internet outweighed the risk.
With the rising prevalence of social media, and a requirement to use the internet for learning at school, children today are growing up with an unparalleled level of access to data. However, with so much adult content saturating the internet, even infiltrating mainstream sites like Pinterest or Instagram, protecting our children from inappropriate content can feel like an impossible task.
InternetNZ outreach and engagement director Andrew Cushen says the survey is a reminder for families to talk with each other about the different types of content found online, and to talk about what to do if they come across any upsetting content. "We need to ensure that people of all ages feel safe on the Internet," he says.
What are ISP family filter services in NZ?
Family Filter is a parental control tool internet providers offer to block the unwanted content, such as pornographic, offensive and malicious websites from being displayed to children. ISPs use intelligent firewalls to keep your kids safe from the not so great corners of the web. Learn more about family filters here
Which Broadband Providers offer family filter services?
These top broadband providers provide ISP family filter services, along with high speed fibre broadband plans with unlimited data.
from
$0.00
/mo
First 3 months then 89.95/month
100Mbps
20Mbps
Get THREE MONTHS FREE Unlimited Broadband plus FREE rental Google Nest Wifi router (one-off $14.95 delivery charge applies). Also, bundle your broadband and power and get 10% bundle discount on both s...
Terms and Conditions apply
Full plan details
Contract options
12 months
Included features
Family filter / BYO Router
- Offer is available to new customers only.
- A minimum 12-month contract applies. Early Termination fee of $250 applies.
- This offer is not available in conjunction with any other offer.
- The promotion is valid for a limited time only and is subject to change by Orcon without notice.
- Free Modem Rental with a one-off $14.95 delivery charge or Bring your own device (BYOD) and get a one-off $25 credit
- An extra 10% discount applies for Power and Broadband Bundles. The 10% discount is applied after all other offers.
Full T&Cs's
Offer expires 31/03/2021
Get THREE MONTHS FREE Unlimited Broadband plus FREE rental Google Nest Wifi router (one-off $14.95 delivery charge applies). Also, bundle your broadband and power and get 10% bundle discount on both services. Get $5/mth off for each active mobile plan you bundle with your broadband. Get a $25 one-off discount when you BYO modem! Offer expires 31/03/2021. T&C's apply.
Full plan details
Terms and Conditions apply
Unlimited Fibre
4 months HALF PRICE plus GIGABIT RO...
from
$42.48
/mo
First 4 months then 84.95/month
100Mbps
20Mbps
Unlimited Fibre
4 months HALF PRICE plus GIGABIT RO...
Get 4 months HALF PRICE broadband on 12mth contract plus a GIGABIT ROUTER. This offer is only available in Fibre Broadband areas. Terms and Conditions apply
Terms and Conditions apply
Full plan details
Contract options
12 months
Included features
Family filter / Rental router
- This promotion can’t be used in conjunction with any other Stuff Fibre promotion.
- This offer is only available to new customers to Stuff Fibre who sign up from 06 January 2020 on a 12 month contract term.
- If you sign up for a 12 month contract term you will receive your first 4 months of Fibre base services for $42.48 per month, then 84.95 per month
- Additional fees for other services such as Voice and shipping are excluded from the offer, and you will be charged in full for these services.
- If your Fibre base service is cancelled prior to the expiry of the contract term then our standard exit fees apply. For a “12 Month Term” an Exit Fee of $99 applies.
- Router delivery fee of $14.95 applies.
- You will be eligible to receive the Loyalty Discount available at the date you sign up.
- Otherwise, the Stuff Fibre terms and policies will continue to apply as normal.
from
$64.95
/mo
First 12 months then 84.95/month
100Mbps
20Mbps
Sign up on a 12-month contract and pay only $64.95/month! Also, bundle your broadband and power and get 10% bundle discount on both services. Get $5/mth off for each active mobile plan you bundle with...
Terms and Conditions apply
Full plan details
Contract options
12 months
Included features
Family filter / BYO Router
- Offer is available to new customers only.
- A minimum 12-month contract applies. Early Termination fee of $250 applies.
- Not available in conjunction with any other offer.
- Offer will revert to standard prices as advertised on Slingshot.co.nz after 12 months.
- The promotion is valid for a limited time only and is subject to change by Slingshot without notice.
- Free standard installation.
- Free Modem Rental with a one-off $14.95 delivery charge or Bring your own device (BYOD) and get a one-off $25 credit.
- An extra 10% discount applies for Power and Broadband Bundles. The 10% discount is applied after all other offers.
Slingshot Broadband Ts&Cs
Slingshot Power Bundles Ts&Cs
Sign up on a 12-month contract and pay only $64.95/month! Also, bundle your broadband and power and get 10% bundle discount on both services. Get $5/mth off for each active mobile plan you bundle with your broadband. Plus, get a $25 one-off discount when you BYO modem! Expires 31/03/2021. T&C's apply.
Full plan details
Terms and Conditions apply
100Mbps
20Mbps
Bundle your Slingshot Broadband and Power plans and get a FREE $25 MOBILE PLAN for a year. That’s 2.5GB of data, 300 NZ/AUS calling minutes and unlimited texts a month for FREE! Also, get 10% bundle d...
Terms and Conditions apply
Full plan details
Contract options
12 months
Included features
Family filter / Power / Rental router / Mobile
- Offer is only available for new customers who bundle Broadband, Power and Mobile.
- If you remove either Slingshot Mobile or Slingshot Power at any time during the 12-month contract, this offer will no longer be applicable.
- One year’s free mobile plan – credited evenly over one year at $25/30 days, which is equivalent of the Slingshot Value mobile plan (2.5GB of data, 300 AUS/NZ calling minutes and unlimited texting every 30 days).
- This will display on your bill as two mobile credits with amounts that vary based on your bill frequency.
- Monthly billed customers a $5 and a $20.35 credit every month.
- Fortnightly billed customers a $2.30 and a $9.37 credit every fortnight.
- Weekly billed customers a $1.15 and a $4.68 credit every week.
- Discount is calculated off the standard plan prices as advertised at slingshot.co.nz.
- All other eligible mobile phone plans will receive a discount, equivalent in value to the free mobile phone plan.
- A minimum 12-month contract applies. Early Termination Fee of $250 applies.
- Free Modem Rental with a one-off $14.95 delivery charge or Bring your own device (BYOD) and get a one-off $25 credit.
- An extra 10% discount applies for Power and Broadband Bundles. The 10% discount is applied after all other offers.
- This promotion is valid for a limited time only, is subject to change by Slingshot without notice, and is not valid with any other offers.
Slingshot Broadband Ts&Cs
Slingshot Power Bundles Ts&Cs
Bundle your Slingshot Broadband and Power plans and get a FREE $25 MOBILE PLAN for a year. That’s 2.5GB of data, 300 NZ/AUS calling minutes and unlimited texts a month for FREE! Also, get 10% bundle discount both on your base broadband and power. Plus, get $25 one-off discount if you BYO modem! Terms and conditions apply. 12 month contract applies. Early Termination Fee applies.
Full plan details
Terms and Conditions apply
Fibre 100 Power+Gas
FREE Premium Mesh Wifi + $20/mth of...
Bundle up with Megatel broadband and energy to receive a 2 set PREMIUM WIFI EXTENDER for free (RRP $299) to get amplified wifi around the house with no dead spots. Plus, protect your devices from any
Terms and Conditions apply
Full plan details
Contract options
24 months
Included features
Family filter / Static IP / Power / Router / Gas
- This promotion provides Deco(2packs) and $20 discount per month on Broadband, if you sign up for Broadband service together with Electricity and Gas. If you sign up for Broadband with just Electricity, you will receive Deco(2packs) and a discount of $15 per month on your Broadband service.
- Services must be connected at the same residential address within one-month time frame from the date you sign up with your application.
- This promotion is only available with Fibre services.
- $15 on Deco Premium Mesh Wifi delivery to you.
Mesh Wifi MEGA Bundle T&C
Promotional Terms and Conditions
Bundle up with Megatel broadband and energy to receive a 2 set PREMIUM WIFI EXTENDER for free (RRP $299) to get amplified wifi around the house with no dead spots. Plus, protect your devices from any of the nasties via real-time antivirus and robust parental content control for free! This mega bundle also comes with an extra $20 off your monthly broadband at only $64.99/mth. Ts&Cs apply.
Full plan details
Terms and Conditions apply
Fibre 100 + Power
FREE Premium Mesh Wifi + $15/mth of...
Bundle up with Megatel Broadband and Electricity to receive a 2 set PREMIUM WIFI EXTENDER for free (RRP $299) to get amplified wifi around the house with no dead spots. Plus, protect your devices from...
Terms and Conditions apply
Full plan details
Contract options
24 months
Included features
Family filter / Static IP / Power / Router
- This promotion provides Deco(2packs) and $20 discount per month on Broadband, if you sign up for Broadband service together with Electricity and Gas. If you sign up for Broadband with just Electricity, you will receive Deco(2packs) and a discount of $15 per month on your Broadband service.
- Services must be connected at the same residential address within one-month time frame from the date you sign up with your application.
- This promotion is only available with Fibre services.
- $15 on Deco Premium Mesh Wifi delivery to you.
Mesh Wifi MEGA Bundle T&C
Promotional Terms and Conditions
Bundle up with Megatel Broadband and Electricity to receive a 2 set PREMIUM WIFI EXTENDER for free (RRP $299) to get amplified wifi around the house with no dead spots. Plus, protect your devices from any of the nasties via real-time antivirus and robust parental content control for free! This mega bundle also comes with an extra $15 off your monthly broadband at only $69.99/mth. Ts&Cs apply.
Full plan details
Terms and Conditions apply
Stuff Fibre
Stuff Fibre’s SafeZone helps filter out adult content, social media or anything undesirable should you need to. It is simple to use, with nothing to install, you can turn filters on and off from anywhere and it protects every device connected to your home network.
Orcon
Orcon’s Family Filter is a non-intrusive first line of defence against R16+ sites; dating, drugs, gambling; alcohol and tobacco sites; known hacked or infected sites; sites about hacking and illegal activity; and suicide or self-harm site. It is usually included free in the first 12 months for new broadband customers, then for $5 per month.
Slingshot
Slingshot’s Family Filter protects your family against: 16+ sites, pornography, and nudity; known hacked or infected websites; dating, drugs, gambling, alcohol, tobacco sites; websites about hacking, dark web, and other illegal activity; and suicide and self-harm sites. It is usually included free in the first 12 months for new broadband customers, then for $5 per month.
Megatel
Megatel’s premium mesh Wifi extender features robust parental controls to block inappropriate content and restrict time spent online. The Wifi extender is perfect for a large family. It provides a fast and seamless connection so you can work and play from anywhere within your home. You no longer have to experience weak signals and dead zones as the signal can reach from the basement to the rooftop.
Top online safety tips for parents:
Set clear expectations
Talk to your children about the types of behaviours you’d like them to adopt online. For example, which apps and social media sites they use, how long they spend online, and the types of content you feel is appropriate. This is likely to be an on-going and evolving conversation as online behaviour is likely to depend on the age of your child and what you feel comfortable with.
Understand what your children are doing online
Showing an interest in the things your children do online is a key first step as it helps build your understanding of their online world, and creates a relationship where it will be easier to have more difficult conversations about it in the future.
Talk to your children about what they are using the internet for. Are they using the internet for learning? To create videos or music? To create friendships and communicate? Who’s in their network? What information are they sharing? What types of games are they playing?
Give it a try yourself
If you don’t understand a game, app or network your child is using online try it yourself. Putting yourself in their shoes is the best way to get an understanding of the challenges young people face online. Take the time to explore website and apps and read the terms and conditions. You could even ask your child to show you how it works as a way to start a conversation around online safety.
Set a good example
Take a look at the example you are seeing for your children when it comes to device use and online behaviour. How often do you use your smartphone or laptop at the dinner table or during family activities? Do you ask permission before you publish family photos on social media? Do you need to brush up your knowledge around online safety, privacy or online shopping
Teach your children these top basics about online safety:
- Use strong passwords to protect your information
- Protect your information online - for example, login details, bank account details, addresses, phone numbers, birthdates. Talk about the personal details children might sharing online, such as where they are, which school they attend, or apps that share your current location with friends or the public.
- Not everything is as it seems. It may seem obvious to you, but sometimes children don’t understand that people are not who they say they are online.
- Digital footprint – teach your child to think about everything they post online forming part of their permanent digital footprint.
