Bay of Plenty teenagers are among the young people featured in a New Zealand series launched this month on RNZ and YouTube.

Teenage campaigner Jack Karetai-Barrett, 15, rode onto Parliament’s grounds after completing a 900km bike ride from Whakatāne in 2025 to raise awareness for Māori wards.

His journey was captured by Bay of Plenty filmmakers Anton Steel and Kylie DellaBarca Steel, whose production company, The CommonUnity Lens, focuses on stories celebrating people, place and positive change.

Jack Karetai-Barrett. Photo / Kylie DellaBarca Steel

Their new series, Kids Unplugged, is designed to show families what childhood can look like beyond the glow of a screen.

Each episode encourages families to swap screen time for real-world adventures, following tamariki (children) choosing the outdoors over devices.

Sparked something

“Five years ago, I was really overweight, unhealthy and unhappy. My dopamine was completely out of whack – I was watching multiple screens and playing video games all at once,” Karetai-Barrett said. “Even though I hated the sound of mountain biking, I decided to give it a go – and it sparked something.”

Sixteen-year-old Jai Taft Robertson, from Ōtamarākau, said boredom isn’t an option outdoors.

“There’s no reason to get bored – there’s always something you can find to do.”.

Jai Taft Robertson with one of his horses. Photo / Kylie DellaBarca Steel

In his episode, Robertson rides Kaimanawa horses, cares for animals, snorkels and plants native trees.

“It’s good for your soul being outside. You’re not just wasting your life on a phone – real life gives you memories,” he said. “I try to get to the horses and get a good ride in before dark. We saved a few Kaimanawa horses from being culled and turned them into really good kids’ ponies.”

Robertson is also involved in marine studies and wetland restoration.

“We wanted to create a safe haven for native birds. It makes me feel good knowing I’m doing something positive,” he said. “I love being in the ocean – being underwater is super cool.”

Lots to do

Pongakawa School pupil Iris Fahey and her family also feature in the series, taking the Steel brothers – Malachi, 15, Judah, 12, and Ezra, 7, who host the series – on a Hunt for the Wilderpeople-style adventure through native forest and backcountry huts.

Iris Fahey. Photo / Supplied

In 2025, Fahey, 10, won her school’s Year 6 speech competition and said her family has been hiking together for about two years.

“There’s lots to do along the way – we make up songs, count waterfalls and play bush tag,” she said. “I love staying in huts and seeing how far you can go. When you get there, it’s a real sense of achievement.”

Launched on April 1 at Te Puke’s Capitol Cinema, the six-episode series is available on RNZ and YouTube. Each episode runs about 10 minutes and is aimed at children aged 8-12, as well as parents, families and educators.

Rather than criticising technology, Kids Unplugged explores what becomes possible when young people step away from phones and social media and connect with nature, challenges and family experiences.

“Purpose to me is asking: what’s your goal in life?” Karetai-Barrett said. “I want to change people – maybe even change the world.”

Chose optimism

The Steel family – Anton and Kylie, along with their three sons – is at the heart of the series. They have also faced personal challenges, including Kylie navigating a leukaemia diagnosis.

“We chose optimism, adventure and meaningful connection in the face of uncertainty,” Kylie said.

She said research shows rising screen use is affecting sleep, mental health and development, with 88% of New Zealand children exceeding recommended recreational screen-time limits.

“Large international studies also link more than four hours of daily recreational screen time with increased risks of anxiety, depression and behavioural difficulties in young people. Technology can be a great tool, but for children to truly thrive, they need fun, active time outdoors,” Kylie said.“That’s the kind of childhood we hope for our tamariki.”

Steel brothers - Malachi (15), Judah (12) and Ezra (7) who host the Kids Unplugged series - on a mission. Photo / Kylie DellaBarca

Anton said the series celebrates young people choosing “the wild over Wi-Fi”.

“Through uplifting, observational storytelling, the first series celebrates young people from the Bay of Plenty living adventurous, connected lives offline,” Anton said.

Time to rediscover

Across the series, the Steel brothers meet young people from around the region, trying activities such as fishing, snorkelling, biking, hut-building, pest control, food gathering, snowboarding, horse riding and hiking.

With school holidays on, the creators hope the series will encourage families to rediscover time outdoors. “We always hear about the risks of screens, but not the benefits of being off them,” said Judah.“When you don’t have a screen, you learn how to be creative; you become resilient, fit, happy and connected.”