Welcome to Hector's World!

Welcome to Hector’s World!

Educating, Entertaining and Empowering Tomorrow’s Digital Citizens Hector’s World is a New Zealand made animated educational series – with full resource suite for school and home – designed to inspire online safety conversations with primary-aged children. Developed by Netsafe, New Zealand’s leading online safety non-profit organization, this project builds on the successful first launch…

19th April 20241st May 2024

Educating, Entertaining and Empowering Tomorrow’s Digital Citizens

Hector’s World is a New Zealand made animated educational series – with full resource suite for school and home – designed to inspire online safety conversations with primary-aged children.

Developed by Netsafe, New Zealand’s leading online safety non-profit organization, this project builds on the successful first launch of Hector’s World back in 2007. With hundreds of thousands of online views in countries around the world, it was time to update the original series, bringing fresh and relevant content to today’s digital natives and the issues they face as they grow up online.

Backed by over 60 purpose-built resources and activities, including curriculum-aligned resources for teachers to use in the classroom, and whānau resources to help support the programme at home, with conversation guides and ‘top tips’ for parents and guardians, the animated episodes (available in English, te reo Māori and subtitles) features seven episodes set in a vibrant underwater world, starring Hector the Dolphin and his friends as they explore the digital world safely and responsibly.

These tools are designed to extend learning beyond the screen, providing valuable support for educators and families wanting to instill positive online habits and prevent harm before it happens.

The first 3 episodes are available on launch day (1 May) to watch on HectorsWorld.com, and are accompanied by 3 Parent Conversation Guides (below). We’ll release new guides as each new weekly episode drops!

Hectors-World-Parent-Guide-Episode-1 — https://netsafe.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Parent-Conversation-Guide-EP1.pdf

Hectors-World-Parent-Guide-Episode-2 — https://netsafe.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Parent-Conversation-Guide-EP1.pdf

Teachers can access classroom resources by creating an account on our dedicated schools-only Education Kete website: https://education.netsafe.org.nz

Hector’s World is crafted for primary school teachers, parents, and, most importantly, children aged 5-10. The content is tailored to be accessible and engaging for young learners, with a focus on real-world scenarios that help children navigate their online interactions intelligently and empathetically.

Our goal is to see Hector’s World utilised in every primary school and kura in New Zealand, as well being used across the large homeschool community and parents at home.

Before redesigning this educational programme, we gathered input and feedback from teachers via a reference group, surveys and research conducted by Deloitte; all of which confirms that Hector’s World is a much-needed programme that will fill a gap for tamariki who are using online-capable devices.

By addressing key issues such as cyberbullying, digital privacy, and the critical balance between online and offline experiences, Hector’s World can play a crucial role in fostering safe digital citizenship from a young age.

Most educational interventions wait until closer to the age limit to join social media channels (13) but many children are online long before then, watching video streaming channels or playing games, and that means they are already facing issues that range from negative screen usage behaviour through to inappropriate content or troublesome friendships.

This proactive approach not only educates younger children on how to protect themselves and their peers online but also supports teachers and parents in guiding these conversations effectively and age-appropriately.

Dive into Hector’s World to explore the depths of the internet safely and enjoyably.

Whether through captivating episodes on YouTube or interactive resources on our dedicated microsite (www.hectorsworld.com) there’s a sea of opportunities to learn and grow. Let’s navigate these digital waters together, ensuring our tamariki are equipped to become informed, respectful, and secure online users.

Visit Hector’s World to start your journey and discover more about how you can make a difference in the digital lives of our children. Together, we can create a safer, more inclusive digital future for them in New Zealand!

This refreshed series is a collaborative effort led by an all-female education team in Netsafe, in partnership with the talented production team at Auckland-based Method Studios, led by Sam Ramlu, known for their impactful storytelling and innovative digital edu-tainment products.

The wider team includes specialists in scriptwriting, motion graphics, audio design, and support from Kawiti Waetford, a licenced Māori Language Translator and Interpreter under Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission), ensuring a high-quality educational experience that can resonate with whānau nationwide.

A project of this size requires considerable financial support and would not be possible without foundational sponsors Microsoft and the Ministry of Education. The programme has been further enabled by community sponsors Blue Sky Community Trust, Aotearoa Gaming Trust, Trillian Trust and The Lion Foundation.

Visit our support page to find out how you can be part of the team behind Hector’s World.