This is a requirement for state and state-integrated schools under the Education (School Boards) Regulations 2020. It must be part of your school policy.

Education (School Boards) Regulations 2020 (LI 2020/193) (as at 18 January 2024) 22 Duty to prohibit the use or access of mobile phones – New Zealand Legislation

The rules include students who are not on school grounds as part of a school programme, such as those on a school course or visit.

The Education Review Office (ERO) monitors how schools have implemented their phone policy.

We have answers to frequently asked questions about mobile phones at school.

Exemptions

Under the regulations, schools must allow students to use or access a phone when:

• a phone is needed for health reasons (for example, to monitor insulin levels if a student is diabetic)
• a phone is needed to help a student with a disability or learning support need (for example, to assist with impaired communication)
• a teacher requires students to use phones for a specific educational task or purpose (for example, for a class assignment)
• the principal decides that they are needed for special circumstances (for example, the student is a teenage parent).

Parents must ask for their child to be exempt from the phone policy rules. Your school must decide whether to grant the exemption.