gzt: Some of the kids smartwatches have parent configurable features. In some cases they are used for medical or behavioural reasons. Cellphones are used for similar purposes and tend to be cheaper, but custom configuration for cellphones is not easy or simple to say the least. Presumably the legislation is flexible enough to allow school discretion where needed.

The official Education Department guidance (here: https://www.education.govt.nz/school/digital-technology/cellphones/) says

What must be in your school rules 

 

The regulations require that schools must ensure students do not use or access a phone while they are attending school, including during lunch time and breaks. This includes students who are on a school course or visit outside the school grounds.

 

This must be in effect no later than the start of Term 2, 29 April 2024.

 

Schools must allow students to use or access a phone when:

 

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

I find it interesting that while this document says "The Government has introduced regulations ..." there's no link at all to the actual text of the Regulation, so a School Board has to rely on the Ministry interpreting the Regulation correctly. Glad I'm not on a School Board of trustees anymore.