Jono, Ben & Megan - The Podcast - Sienna VS Luxon!

Episode Date: April 28, 2024

Phones are banned at school starting today! Bens daughter Sienna faces off against Prime Minister Christopher Luxon as a last-ditch effort to change his mind.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hits, with the Jono and Ben podcast. Cheers to Dilma, making the world a better tea. And we did catch up with Sienna and the Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon. How are ya? Good to be with you guys. It's lovely to have you here on a very auspicious day. Just talk about your schedule. Jeez, seven days a week, getting up at 4.30. Yeah, I always get up early, always have actually. And there's always lots to do, sort of read the papers internationally,

find out what's going on in the world, and then sort of into work often. You get a lot of reading in this job. So every night there's a bunch of papers to read for the coming days and week. And then you get delivered these briefcases at 10 o'clock at night with all the reading that happens. It's handed to you? Yeah, it gets delivered to wherever I am,

and then I have to go through the papers. Oh, jeez. Put you to sleep sometimes so much. But it's important, right? You've got to do all that reading and make sure you're on top of what is pretty complex, sort of brief, really. When do you watch Netflix?

I watch it in 15-minute sort of increments, maybe on the descent from an Air New Zealand plane coming back from Wellington, when I can't use anything else. You went to Asia recently as well, a fleeting visit through Asia, and you were telling this incredible story about what you guys made your daughter do. Oh, yeah, that was a few years back. But my wife and daughter went there as well, a fleeting visit through Asia, and you were telling this incredible story about what you guys made your daughter do.

Oh, yeah, that was a few years back. But my wife and daughter went there as well, and Olivia visited a place called Smoky Mountain, which has got much cleaner and much better, but it's actually where 80,000 people scavenge for their food and spend a bit of time there, a few days there. You took her on a holiday to a rubbish dump. Well, it's important because you want your kids to sort of have a sense of appreciation

Of what's going on in the world And that really did shape her quite strongly around modern slavery and other things I bet, well hey, June, July school holidays kids Pretty hardcore in the Luxon family Okay so Christopher Luxon, we're going to open a bit of a debate Because this is day one, day one of no devices being allowed in schools. Yeah, isn't it? Isn't it fantastic?

So this is the law is now that schools, it phones away every school across the country. Big policy. Big, big policy company. You follow through on a policy. No, we did. We did it very quickly. And the first week, I think we said to the education officials, we want to put this in place for the school year.

I think they very politely said, we need more time. And we said, no, no, you don't understand. We want it done. want to put this in place for the school year I think they very politely said we need more time and we said no no you don't understand we want it done so we're ready to go for the school year. Are you getting heckled by kids on the street? Well it's actually it's actually a real mixture so there'll be a couple of kids that will send me messages online and then I'll reply back to them saying well enjoy it while you can but it's coming it's law very shortly. What I love is it affects my day in no way at all. And we can revel in it. But I know someone who's very passionate about it in the boys' household. My daughter, Sienna.

Now, we've had many conversations. In fact, when you first got elected, she was like, what's this cell phone thing? I went, don't worry. Half the stuff they say doesn't happen. That's what I said. I was like, to be honest, it'll be a sub-election thing it won't probably go through and then all of a sudden

it was like oh okay this is actually happening so I probably gave her a false sense of security about how things were going to go I love that

I love that it is definitely happening my friend it is definitely happening she's passionate about it as you know great and so we've got her here today

and she's prepared some stuff we wanted to throw some have a little bit of a debate with you right now. I love it. Some points and get you to respond to some of the things she's been thinking about. The Hits, the Jono and Ben podcast. Cell phones in schools as of today. It's the law passed on from the government, and we're now going to have a big debate.

Yes, bring in your daughter, Sienna. I feel like, do we clap? Yes, she is your daughter Sienna I feel like do we clap or? Yeah she is She needs to She's got a blazer on She's got her blue light glasses Looking very I've got to be honest

This is going to be the toughest Debate interview I've had All month I suspect She is so on to it I feel like she's got nothing to lose She's got nothing to lose She's taking down a Prime Minister And you're fresh off a Hosking interview too

And I'm fresh off a Hosking interview And jet lagged So um Sienna, okay, over to you. Sienna, can we just clarify? I think your dad is in favour of this policy. He's just set me up to hold that line. You reckon?

I don't think so. You don't reckon? I think that he needs me because I'm a big help in his Instagram. So he needs me. He'd be nothing without you. Stick to the script that you've come through. He would be nothing without you.

I agree. I think that's right. I think he needs my phone usage to help his Instagram account. Anyway. Okay, all right. Let's go. Good morning, Prime Minister. Good morning, Sienna.

Are you ready for a debate? Born ready, Sienna. Because Chris Hipkins has got nothing on me. Now, you said you were banning phones to help improve learning and allow children to succeed. Is that correct? Yes, ma'am. We are living in a digital world, Mr. Luxon. Statistics claim phone usage are now a large part of 83% of the workforce.

So mastering the art of responsible phone usage is a vital life skill and also an educational resource that can propel us forward, if you think about itel us forward if you think about it. Oh, if you think about it. Digital world. The implications, I'm not thinking about it. Yeah, okay.

No, I hear you. In fact, stopping teenagers from using phones might hinder our learning progress and leave us at a disadvantage when we step into the real world. Oh my goodness. Do you want that? I think our teenagers are so smart that when they're allowed to use their phones after school, when they finish school, they'll be able to pick it up pretty easily. It's not that difficult to master phone use. It's not a skill you need to have for 10 years of training

while you're out. The evidence, I just say, look, the evidence is really clear. Our schools that actually have banned phones for years are actually getting great results and the same happens overseas. And I actually want Sienna, I want you to be able to keep your dad in retirement because I agree with you. You're extending his career, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. With my phone. So you're going to get such a great education. You're going to be able to earn so much money that you're going to look after him really well.

Oh, he's dead good. Now, Mr. Luxon, you used to work for Unilever. I hope you still have some of the deodorant because this next point is going to have you swearing. Oh, what a burn. What a burn. She's bringing it. She's bringing it. You said that mobile phones at school are a distraction. Instead of implementing a complete ban, what about schools establishing guidelines for cell phone usage? By teaching us about digital boundaries in a constructive manner, distractions can be minimized and we can carry these lessons about appropriate times to use our screens into our lives outside of school i disagree completely

i'm banning them you're not using them i want your focus to learn here's the other side right i've spoken to principals and you know what's happening sienna that the actual noise level and playgrounds are going up over playtime and lunchtime and stuff because kids are actually talking to each other it's a novel idea but you know they're actually communicating and playing games and actually doing physical interaction not virtual interaction and the cyber bullying is going down which is a good thing right very good because you've got to admit there's a lot of bullying online right you used to run in new zealand i like the pointed finger that's a really good look now you're really winding it up now. You used to run it. You, you. Well I hope you're in the brace position for this, Colin.

Oh this is great. Oh, so good. And just like taking a flight, safety is important with cell phones too, don't you agree? Safety is very important, particularly on aeroplanes. And you want our schools to be a safer place, and so do we. Cell phones serve as a vital tool for ensuring our safety Providing us with constant connection for friends and parents Whenever we need it and

You don't need it Yes you do No you don't I feel like I'm listening to a dad have an argument with his teenage daughter Actually what you're going to do is you go to the school office You do what your mum and dad and us used to do Which is actually if we had a problem Call mum and dad We go to the school office, you do what your mum and dad and us used to do, which is actually if we had a problem, call mum and dad, we'd use the school office phone and miraculously it works

and you can get through when you need to. But you don't need to be talking to mum and dad every minute of every day. It's good for you to have independence and to have a break from them. But cell phones also allow us to build memories and friendships. Memories, oh! To create a positive school life where teenagers can feel happy to attend school every day. But you know what I'm excited about? Is actually young people are going to learn

to talk to each other and use their interpersonal skills and have physical friendships with people, not just virtual relationships and friends online, you know? Why don't instead of an outright ban, we use something that Kiwis are known for? Innovation. Innovation. Oh, bamboozling now. Innovation is

the ability to see change as an opportunity, not a threat. How do I know that? I learned that by using my cell phone to help me with this debate. Oh, well done you. No, no, it's good. Hey, look, lovely debate, great discussion, good points you make, but you're wrong. And we're banning the mobile phones because I care about you. I love you. I want you to learn really well. I want the teachers not to be distracted. I want you not to be distracted.

And I want less bullying and I want our kids learning to talk to each other. You're awesome. So I can see that was definitely tough. Well done. Well done. Great job. And it would have been pretty controversial if he backtracked now. All right, I give in. Hey, well done. Good debating, Sienna. Well done, well done, great job. And it would have been pretty controversial if he backtracked now. Alright, I give in.

Hey well done, good debating Sienna, well done Prime Minister. She's great. And there we go, day one of no cell phones or devices in the schoolyard. Hang in there, you will survive.