Have you ever wondered how to make your online accounts secure, but not known how to do that? If so, you’re not alone! One of the main reasons Kiwis don’t always take deliberate steps to improve their online security, is not knowing what steps to take, or where to start (37%). 

New research, conducted for Google New Zealand by YouGov, shows that most Kiwis are not always taking deliberate steps to enhance their online security (69%). This is despite a third of us admitting that we’re aware of a time a password was compromised or hacked. In fact one in five Kiwis have fallen victim to phishing or an online scam.

This is why Google invests extensively in our products and services to ensure they’re secure by default and private by design. We keep more users safe - by blocking malware, phishing attempts, spam messages and potential cyber attacks - than anyone else in the world, but it’s also important that people take advantage of tools to improve their protection. 

While online security can seem confusing, or boring, the good news is that there are some very easy things we can all do to keep ourselves safer online:

1. Use a password manager to create and store strong passwords for every account. For example, Google’s Password Manager, built directly into your Google Account, uses the latest AI security technology to protect your passwords. 

2. Turn on 2-Step Verification. This helps to keep out anyone who shouldn’t have access to your account by requiring you to use a secondary factor on top of your username and password to log in to your account.
   
   

3. Make sure site connections are secure. If the url is secure the Chrome browser will display a grey fully locked icon in the url field.
   
   

4. Always validate URLs and suspicious links. Double-check the URL by hovering over the link or long-pressing the text on mobile — to make sure that the website or app is legitimate; and make sure that the URL begins with 'https'.

5. Double check files before downloading. If you come across a suspicious attachment, use Chrome or Google Drive to open it. They automatically scan the file and warn you if we detect a virus.

We also launched the Google Safety Centre to share these and other simple solutions, information and advice for New Zealanders to protect themselves online

The research data comes from a report which looked at Kiwis’ attitudes to online safety and security. Key findings also include:

Deliberate steps to improve online security

• Seven in ten (59%) New Zealand adults are not always taking deliberate steps in order to improve their online security. 

• Younger Kiwis aged 18-34 (80%) are more likely than older Australians aged 50+ (58%) to say they do not always take deliberate steps all the time in order to improve their online security.

Barriers to taking deliberate action

• Among those who are not currently taking deliberate steps to protect themselves online all the time, the main reason as to why is because they say they wouldn't know what steps they could take or where to start (37%).

• Women (44%) are more likely than men (28%) to suggest that they wouldn’t know what steps they could take or where to start in regard to protecting themselves online.

Passwords

• Only three in ten (31%) Kiwi adults say that they always use a different password for every account online. A further three in ten (31%) say they use a couple of passwords across their account, but they do overlap, one in five (22%) say they use similar passwords based on the same word / phrase for all their accounts, while 6%, the equivalent of 218k Kiwis say they use the exact same password for all their accounts where possible. While, one in five (19%) say they often forget the password they use online.

• Alarmingly, the younger Kiwis aged 18-34 (8%) are twice as likely to use the exact same password for all their accounts where possible compared to those aged 50+ (3%), as well as more likely to say they use a couple of passwords across their account, but they do overlap (18-34 26% compared to 50+ 18%), which potentially suggests a degree of complacency amongst the younger tech savvy generations

• Just one in four (26%) use a password manager, a tool designed to provide strong passwords that are safely secured.

Two-factor authentication usage 

• Nearly one in five people (18%) didn’t know what two-factor authentication, the addition of app or text approval to access an account, meant, with just one in ten (9%) always using this layer of protection that is widely recognised as best practice, for online accounts. 

Methodology

Consumer research conducted on behalf of Google New Zealand by YouGov. The research comprised a national sample of 1,511 New Zealand adults 18+ years during the period 11-18 August 2021. 

Nearly 1 million students will find themselves out of school in New Zealand during a national COVID-19 lockdown. While this can in turn put families, schools and teachers under immense pressure to ensure that students continue to learn, over the past 18 months Kiwi teachers and students have greatly accelerated their digital skills. Whether the ‘classroom’ is in-person, virtual or a hybrid of the two, building educators and students capacity and equal access to digital skills education has been central to the partnerships Google has developed throughout New Zealand.

That’s why today we’re pleased to announce the continuation and evolution of our agreement with the Ministry of Education. Since 2018 we’ve provided all state and state-integrated schools across New Zealand with Ministry-funded Chrome Education Upgrades to manage new and existing unmanaged Chromebooks. Now, in addition, the Chrome Education Upgrade will be available to schools via our distribution partner Synnex NZ, allowing schools to also upgrade their Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals (the free for Education edition - previously called G Suite for Education) to Google Workspace for Education Plus. 

Google Workspace for Education Plus gives schools access to enterprise level teaching and learning, reporting and security tools. This comprehensive edition includes all the enhanced security features and tools from Education Standard, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and more to ensure your school has the best educational tools available.

Schools can harness the power of enhanced teaching and learning tools like secure Breakout rooms in Google Meet, Originality checkers in Google classroom and the ability to livestream important school events to the community wherever they are. Kura can customise and personalise Big Query data exports of their student engagement to help support their student learning journeys.  

The Chrome Education upgrade was developed to make device management in schools a breeze, so that teachers and students can focus on what’s most important—teaching and learning. Equipped with the Chrome Education upgrade, schools can utilise essential education features to better support the many ways Chromebooks - the number one device in New Zealand schools -  are used in the classroom.

The introduction of Chrome Education Upgrade Licences with Workspace for Education,  now provides schools with an advanced set of Google Education tools and services that are tailored for Schools, Clusters and homeschools to collaborate, streamline instruction, and keep learning safe and secure.

Our team is working to make digital tools easier and more helpful for everyone and we hope this agreement enables even more educators and students around New Zealand to access and make the most of their digital learning.

Google Nest’s mission is to build products that make a more helpful home. All of this starts with helping you understand what’s happening within the walls of your home and outside of it. 

One of Nest’s first goals was to simplify home security, and it helped millions of people across the globe do this. So when we started dreaming up what our next generation of cameras and doorbells would be like, we wanted to incorporate the way the connected home — and your expectations — were heading. That included smarter alerts, wire-free options for installation flexibility, greater value and beautiful designs, plus enhanced privacy and security. We wanted our newest line to give you the most comprehensive set of intelligent alerts right out of the box, and easily work with your other Nest products, like displays.

Today we’re introducing our next-generation Nest Cams and Doorbell: Google Nest Cam (battery) is our first outdoor/indoor battery-powered camera (NZ$359); Google Nest Doorbell (battery) is our first battery-powered doorbell (NZ$359). Learn more about 11 things to love about the new Nest Cam and Doorbell.

Then there’s Google Nest Cam with floodlight, our first connected floodlight camera (NZ$599) and finally the second-generation Google Nest Cam (wired), a wired indoor camera and our most affordable Nest Cam ever (NZ$189).

We’ve heard how much people appreciate it when their Nest products all work well together. These new devices are no different. With the new Nest Cams and a display, you can keep an eye on the backyard from your kitchen and get alerts when the doorbell rings. Our new cameras are also fully integrated with the Google Home app. The Google Home app works with any compatible Android or iOS device, giving you access to all your compatible home devices in one place, any where and any time. 

The new battery-powered Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell will go on sale on August 25, and are available for preorder today from Google Store, Noel Leeming, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, PB Tech and 2Degrees. And for those who preorder, you can also secure an extra gift of a second-generation Nest Hub from selected retailers.

Nest Cam with floodlight and the new wired indoor Nest Cam are coming soon.

To learn more, visit the Google Store.

Now, more than ever, it’s important that we support Kiwi teachers and ensure they are equipped with the knowledge and resources they need to succeed. A recent survey of Kiwi teachers revealed that only 7% had the knowledge and skills to introduce computer science (CS) curriculum in the classroom. Understanding, creating and using technology are critical skills for all students and teachers, regardless of where in Aotearoa they live. 

Google’s Educator PD Grants program has been running in New Zealand since 2011 and, in that time, has trained over 20,000 teachers. The program aims to equip teachers through practical professional development workshops, with the skills and resources they need to confidently teach computational thinking and computer science concepts in new and exciting ways. 

The impact of PD Grants for Educators

One of the workshops to benefit from the grants is CS4HS. 

CS4HS workshops aim to support teachers to build their skills in STEM and digital technologies, to find creative ways to deliver lessons in the classroom and to tap into the enthusiasm that many students have for technology.

Dr Mahsa Mohaghegh is the organiser of CS4HS, which has received funding from Google since 2013. 

“The purpose of the conference is to upskill our valuable high school educators by presenting ideas to engage students with new technologies so students can be better equipped for the needs of twenty-first century learning and jobs,” Dr Mahsa says. “We have heard year after year from teachers how valuable the workshop is for them and for some it is the only professional development in the year.” 

We’re excited to announce the following 2021 CS Educator Grants Awardees, who, like Mahsa, will motivate and inspire educators around New Zealand.

2021 CS Educator Grants Funding Recipients in New Zealand

• The University of Canterbury (CS Unplugged)

• The University of Canterbury 

• Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

• AUT University

Now, more than ever, it’s important that we support Kiwi teachers and ensure they are equipped with the knowledge and resources they need to succeed. A recent survey of Kiwi teachers revealed that only 7% had the knowledge and skills to introduce computer science (CS) curriculum in the classroom. Understanding, creating and using technology are critical skills for all students and teachers, regardless of where in Aotearoa they live. 

Google’s Educator PD Grants program has been running in New Zealand since 2011 and, in that time, has trained over 20,000 teachers. The program aims to equip teachers through practical professional development workshops, with the skills and resources they need to confidently teach computational thinking and computer science concepts in new and exciting ways. 

The impact of PD Grants for Educators

One of the workshops to benefit from the grants is CS4HS. 

CS4HS workshops aim to support teachers to build their skills in STEM and digital technologies, to find creative ways to deliver lessons in the classroom and to tap into the enthusiasm that many students have for technology.

Dr Mahsa Mohaghegh is the organiser of CS4HS, which has received funding from Google since 2013. 

“The purpose of the conference is to upskill our valuable high school educators by presenting ideas to engage students with new technologies so students can be better equipped for the needs of twenty-first century learning and jobs,” Dr Mahsa says. “We have heard year after year from teachers how valuable the workshop is for them and for some it is the only professional development in the year.” 

We’re excited to announce the following 2021 CS Educator Grants Awardees, who, like Mahsa, will motivate and inspire educators around New Zealand.

2021 CS Educator Grants Funding Recipients in New Zealand

• The University of Canterbury (CS Unplugged)

• The University of Canterbury 

• Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

• AUT University

Teaching students computer science without a computer. Reaching offline Senior citizens learning how to connect during a national lockdown. Helping small business owners get their business online.

For many years we’ve been working to ensure Kiwis get the digital skills they need to succeed in our increasingly online world. This is a necessary task, as research shows that by 2025 as many as 149 million new digital technology jobs are expected to be created worldwide. 

Released today, our 2020 Community Engagement Report which has been compiled by Social Ventures Australia, highlights the ways in which communities across Aotearoa such as students and teachers, small businesses have built digital capabilities and confidence - with support from Google.

Innovative Digital Skills Programmes

We’re proud of the programmes we’ve been running and supporting, aimed at helping Kiwis acquire new skills to succeed in an increasingly digitised world. Many of our initiatives support marginalised or traditionally excluded groups such as Māori and Pasifika communities, women and older New Zealanders. 

Lifting educator’s capacity to teach Computer Science (CS) to build a future pipeline of talent is one of the key areas our skilling programmes are designed for. The Manaiakalani Education Trust’s Digital Fluency Intensive is designed to empower teachers in low decile schools to effectively and creatively teach CS. We’ve been supporting this programme since 2013, and studies show that after three years in a Manaiakalani school young people make up to two times the expected progress in a school year when compared with the national average. 

Resilient Home Grown Businesses

In order to support New Zealand’s economic recovery, we’re helping small businesses, the nonprofit sector and Aotearoa’s newsrooms to harness the benefits of technologies. Local business consultancy The Icehouse received funds via Youth Business International’s Covid-19 Rapid Response and Recovery initiative funded by Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, to provide guidance and emergency relief to Kiwi entrepreneurs impacted by COVID-19 and they focussed on supporting small businesses run by women, young people and migrants which secured 280 jobs. 

Last year 76 local news organisations across New Zealand and the Pacific received emergency relief from the Google News Initiative, because we saw it as critical to support local reporting during a crisis. And 78% of nonprofit organisations rated Google’s products as critical or important to their organisation during 2020, playing a critical role in adapting or changing their outreach programmes, showing the impact of Google for Nonprofits.

Support to Address COVID-19

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic we worked closely with the New Zealand Government, by mobilising resources across Search, Maps and YouTube, to drive unified action and support for the national COVID-19 response. The donation of NZ$8.5 million of Google Ads – to the New Zealand Government, not-for-profits and small businesses – helped authorities to elevate critical information and trustworthy resources and ensured Kiwis could easily find information they needed.

With the increasing speed at which Kiwis are accessing information, the role of digitisation should not decrease the quality, especially in times of need. We know that the spread of misinformation erodes public trust in news, and government for example, so we’ve continued to work in partnerships to help communities find the latest health information about COVID-19 when Kiwis need it most. 

We’ll continue to find unique and impactful ways to support New Zealanders in their digitisation, so that people around New Zealand – whether they are students, businesses, not-for-profits, educators, researchers or creators – are able to not just survive but thrive in the digital world.