Orewa College brought whānau, staff, and experts together for a powerful community kōrero on digital wellbeing and online life. Read more about the event and access practical advice for supporting our rangatahi.

Navigating the Online World Together

Orewa College recently hosted What’s on Their Screens? This community evening, sponsored by Ben Gibson of Harcourts Cooper & Co, brought whānau, staff, and digital wellbeing experts together under one roof. Held at the Orewa Arts and Events Centre, the event tackled some of the most important questions facing parents and caregivers today: How do we support our rangatahi in the digital world? What’s really happening on their screens? And how can we have honest conversations at home?

“It was so good to hear real stories from people who get it,” said one parent in attendance. “This helped us feel more confident.”

Sharing Knowledge, Strengthening Whānau

Principal Wiri Warriner welcomed the large crowd and opened the evening with a message of shared responsibility. “As a kura, we know that the wellbeing of our students is something we all care deeply about,” he said. “When we come together like this, we’re showing our parents that they’re not navigating this alone.”

Makes Sense Parent Educator Holly Brooker unpacked the latest online trends and the ways algorithms keep rangatahi scrolling. She urged parents to focus on values, connection, trust, and open dialogue over hard-and-fast rules.

Digital wellbeing educator Andrew Cowie followed with everyday strategies families can put into practice immediately. Drawing on his resource guide, he recommended parking phones in a shared space for the first two hours after school: “Even the act of leaving [a phone] in a fixed space … enables some time away from interruption and temptation,” said Cowie, encouraging families to try tech-free routines and keep devices out of bedrooms.

Chas Ngaha showed how to turn the unspoken rules of online behaviour into clear, shared expectations that encourage rangatahi to take responsibility for their digital lives.

A Shared Kaupapa

The evening was more than just information. It was a chance for our kura community to connect, ask questions, and learn from one another. Info tables from the Hibiscus Coast Youth Hauora Network, a free sausage sizzle, and steady conversation kept the foyer buzzing before and after the sessions.

Ngā mihi to everyone who came along, asked brave questions, and supported this kaupapa. We look forward to continuing these events and navigating the digital world together.

Click here to download Andrew Cowie’s resource and Holly Brooker’s resource.

 📸 Photo credit: Caludette Roux, Althea White