Apple Watch For Your Kids NZ Carrier Support

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menace1

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#323639 26-Dec-2025 15:25

Does anyone 'in the know' have any information on if any of the carriers (Spark, 2degrees, One NZ) are looking to add support for the "Apple Watch For Your Kids" functionality as per https://support.apple.com/en-nz/guide/watch/apd54d0a51fb/watchos

I see NZ is not on the list at the moment based on this list -> https://www.apple.com/au/watch/cellular/#table-for-your-kids but it could be out of date.. I know we always lag behind the rest of the world with this sort of stuff but considering the functionality a came out in 2020 maybe its not too far off? 🤞

Ultimately I'm looking for a smart watch solution for my kiddo without having to give them a full blown phone to go with it...

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#3447280 26-Dec-2025 15:58

I’m not aware of any carriers (domestic or roaming) who offer this in NZ, and I doubt you’ll find anyone announcing their plans to do so publicly either. Sorry.

Linux

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#3447285 26-Dec-2025 16:10

Adking for something that could be covered under a project no one is going to comment about future plans

menace1

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#3447363 26-Dec-2025 19:41

Thanks lads - was just hoping there was some info out there ether way, either a definitive no or yes. 🤷‍♂️

lloydw

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#3447588 28-Dec-2025 15:33

This seems like something that would be a “killer feature” for the first provider that offers it. I can see parents switching to get their kids watches with cellular rather than full mobiles.

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#3447589 28-Dec-2025 15:39

lloydw:

This seems like something that would be a “killer feature” for the first provider that offers it. I can see parents switching to get their kids watches with cellular rather than full mobiles.

Killer feature? How much would you pay per month for it?

lloydw

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#3447590 28-Dec-2025 15:48

I’d expect to have this feature I’d need to be on a pay monthly plan of at least $50 or more, so switching me and my wife plus say $20 a month per child that would be around $140 a month value to the carrier?

The key being if I wanted to have family Apple Watch support I’d have to go with that provider.

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quickymart

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#3447592 28-Dec-2025 15:50

Personally I'd rather my boy have a cellphone that does more than a watch that does less (if that makes sense).

Batman

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#3447596 28-Dec-2025 16:24

i have this watch because my plan comes with it and the watch is so bad. it doesn't work half the time. (internet says the cellular is weak, bluetooth is weak, and for some reason sometimes it just won't work even if it has connection to everything, and before you know it the battery is dead)

menace1

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#3447813 29-Dec-2025 16:44

Linux:

lloydw:

This seems like something that would be a “killer feature” for the first provider that offers it. I can see parents switching to get their kids watches with cellular rather than full mobiles.

Killer feature? How much would you pay per month for it?

It would be a big draw card for parents like my self 100% as the competition is lacking.. ie spacetalk, garmin bounce/bounce2 etc...?

The cheapest plan I saw was the 2degrees group plan of 25$ a month for the number + 5$ for the watch connection. Which is comparable to bounce2 cost of 25$ a month but garmin does offer a yearly subscription of 185 which cuts down the monthly expense... but is half the watch for comparable cost.. 🙃

menace1

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#3447814 29-Dec-2025 16:45

quickymart:

Personally I'd rather my boy have a cellphone that does more than a watch that does less (if that makes sense).

That is explicitly what I'm trying to avoid.. 😅 trying to delay the full smart phone access and have some control... ie a small step to access to a phone in a few/couple of years..

menace1

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#3447815 29-Dec-2025 16:45

Batman:

i have this watch because my plan comes with it and the watch is so bad. it doesn't work half the time. (internet says the cellular is weak, bluetooth is weak, and for some reason sometimes it just won't work even if it has connection to everything, and before you know it the battery is dead)

Which watch are you talking about? There are a few apple watches? 🤔 But if you look at the 'competiton' ie SpaceTalk, Garmin bounce/bounce2 reviews on reception... they are not much better.. 😞

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NeNe

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#3467541 7-Mar-2026 15:01

Did you ever find an answer or solution?

I wanted to get my son a Apple Watch but can't find a carrier that allows the family setup... Also looked into spacewalk but have heard lots of people have issues with them after 3g changes in nz..

lloydw

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#3467564 7-Mar-2026 16:29

Unfortunately still waiting for a carrier to support it. Only solution I could find that would probably work right now is to buy an old iPhone and set it up with that and then leave the phone in a draw. However I’ve not tried this yet.

NeNe

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#3467570 7-Mar-2026 16:53

Did you try 2 degrees? One their customer service team said they can do family set up but didn’t seem to know how so I’m not sure that’s correct!

no local store to ask in person so that was just via the Facebook support team

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#3467571 7-Mar-2026 17:09

NeNe:

Did you try 2 degrees? One their customer service team said they can do family set up but didn’t seem to know how so I’m not sure that’s correct!

no local store to ask in person so that was just via the Facebook support team

@NeNe Not the family setup this thread is speaking sbout

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