Top family broadband plans for the school holidays

Top family broadband plans for the school holidays
Thursday, 8 April 2021

The countdown is on for the Easter school holidays! In a perfect world, school holidays mean plenty of “analogue” activities like playing outside, fun day trips, playing with friends and family. But in reality, especially as we head into the cooler winter months, this often means a spike in time spent online with devices.

Screen time can be a prime source of stress for parents, especially during the school holidays. The top 3 parental worries we see at Broadband Compare are:

  • The amount of time kids and teens spend on their digital devices and the impact this could have on their child’s health or development.
  • Concerns about kid’s safety online – the content they’re exposed to and who kids interact with online.
  • Outdate internet plans mean slow connections times with halting, buggering connections as more devices connect.

The good news is that there are simple steps that you can take today to protect your family online and avoid screen-time stress. Plus, we have recommended some top broadband plans for Kiwi families, so you can upgrade today. Don’t spend another school holiday suffering with a poor broadband connection.

Check out our top tips for protecting children online

Top Broadband Plans for Kiwi Families

These top broadband plans offer ISP family filter services, along with high-speed fibre broadband plans with unlimited data.

EXCLUSIVE
98

Unlimited Fibre 300 Sign up to WIN 1 of 3 $500 Prezzy C...

from $65.00 /mo
First 12 months then 97.00/month
300Mbps 100Mbps
Unlimited data
EXCLUSIVE
98

Unlimited Fibre 300 Sign up to WIN 1 of 3 $500 Prezzy C...

Sign up to Slingshot's 300Mbps Unlimited Fibre Plan and pay ONLY $65/month PLUS go into WIN 1 of 3 $500 Prezzy Cards this month! *Offer ends April 1st, 2024. New customers only. T&Cs apply. Sign up o...
Terms and Conditions apply

Full plan details

Contract options

12 months

Included features

Family filter

Terms and conditions

  • 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.
  • Brand new Orbi Wi-Fi 6 Router is $5/month rental with a one-off $14.95 delivery charge or Bring your own device.
  • Additional add on MESH Satellite units:​
    • 1 Satellite Unit ($5/month) - recommended for homes between 150 and 300sqm
    • 2 Satellite Units ($10/month) - recommended for homes greater than 300sqm
  • Modem to be returned if customer cancels.
  • Refer to the Slingshot website for more FAQ`s regarding modems.
  • Receive $5/m broadband discount for each mobile plan added - no more than 4 mobile plans on the new sign-up are allowed.

Slingshot Broadband Ts&Cs
Bundle Discount Terms & Conditions

EXCLUSIVE
70

Unlimited Fibre 300 Get $22 off your standard price for...

from $75.00 /mo
First 12 months then 97.00/month
300Mbps 100Mbps
Unlimited data
EXCLUSIVE
70

Unlimited Fibre 300 Get $22 off your standard price for...

Sign up for the Orcon Fibre plan through Broadband Compare and get $22 monthly discount for 12 months! Bundle your broadband and power and get 10% bundle discount on both services. Get $5/mth off for
Terms and Conditions apply

Full plan details

Contract options

12 months

Terms and conditions

  • 12-month term applies to all plans, exit fees of $250 apply.
  • Standard pricing applies after 12 months.
  • **Average Orcon Fibre plan (Fibre 100 or Fibre 300, depending on location) or Fibre Pro plan (Fibre Max) download/upload speeds with compatible modem at busy times (SamKnows December 2021 or Orcon November 2021). Experienced speeds may be higher or lower. For more information on how we measure speeds visits.(SamKnows December 2021)  More info
  • An extra 10% discount applies for Power and Broadband Bundles. The 10% discount is applied after all other offers. 

Full T&Cs's

Stuff Fibre Family Filter

Stuff Fibre’s SafeZone puts you in control of your family’s internet use. SafeZone 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. Filter out adult content, social media or anything undesirable should you need to. Plus it’s usually included free in Stuff Fibre’s broadband plans.

Orcon Family Filter

Orcon’s Family Filter is a non-intrusive first line of defence that protects any devices connected to your home Wifi.  It protects your family 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 Family Filter

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 tips for dealing with screen time during school holidays

Use family filter services

Choose a broadband provider with family filtering services. Spend some time before the holidays begin to make sure you understand how your service works and that it is set up correctly.

Set routines and boundaries

Have a family discussion with your children / teens and agree on realistic and achievable limits around screen time. Make a plan that establishes firm rules about how much time your child can spend with screens, and where, when, what and with whom they can use screen time.

Help your child make good app choices

Knowing what your child is doing online can make a big difference – are they spending their time on leisure or learning? Is it age appropriate? Are they active or passive? There are plenty of fun apps that can help children learn or develop important skills like hand-eye coordination, literacy skills, relationship skills and more. Common Sense Media review apps, games, website and movies to help parents decide what is appropriate for their children.

Establish firm cut off times or points

One of the main battles parents can have with kids online is “just one more show”, or “I just need to reach the next level”. The feeling that they are never ‘done’ or ‘complete’ can cause ongoing disagreements. You may find it easier not to have prescribed time (eg: 1 hour) and rather have precise quantities or cut-off points. For example, “you can watch two episodes of your favourite show”, or “You can play four Fortnite battles”.

Give plenty of warning time

Give kids plenty of warning before their screen-time will end. These simple spoken reminders allow kids to prepare themselves for the end of screen-time and hopefully prevent a dreaded tech-tantrum.

Have tech-free zones at home

Ideally, kids should only use devices in public areas of the house like the living room or dining room. Have clear rules about where it is ok to use screens and technology and make bedrooms, bathrooms and play areas tech-free.

Get out of the house

One of the easiest ways to limit screen time during the school holidays is to plan tech-free activities each day. Try to plan plenty of opportunities to spend time outside with friends, engaging in physical activity, and outside in nature. We are lucky in New Zealand to have plenty of opportunities to enjoy outdoor spaces, library holiday programmes and community programmes. Plan bush walks, trips to the beach, museum visits, interesting crafts or projects.

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Unlimited Fibre Broadband from $70/m
Plus 6 months Prime Video free
Say whaaaaaaat!! Limited time only. 
T&Cs apply.
Unlimited Fibre Broadband from $70/m
Plus 6 months Prime Video free
Say whaaaaaaat!! Limited time only.
T&Cs apply.