Telecommunications giant and internet service provider Spark is set to introduce more firewalls, filters, barriers and protections to protect Kiwi users.

From April, Spark will be the first New Zealand-based provider to join the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) in order to reduce exposure to malware, scams and sexual abuse material.

Make Sense co-founder Jo Robertson says Spark will go from blocking a few hundred URLs to blocking at least 6,000 objectionable links per day. 

"What they're doing is- they're essentially removing so much more child sexual abuse material from their platform than other internet providers."

LISTEN ABOVE

Telecommunications giant and internet service provider Spark is set to introduce more firewalls, filters, barriers and protections to protect Kiwi users.
From April, Spark will be the first New Zealand-based provider to join the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) in order to reduce exposure to malware, scams and sexual abuse material.
Make Sense co-founder Jo Robertson says Spark will go from blocking a few hundred URLs to blocking at least 6,000 objectionable links per day. 
"What they're doing is- they're essentially removing so much more child sexual abuse material from their platform than other internet providers."
LISTEN ABOVE

News, opinion, analysis, lifestyle and entertainment – we’ve got your Sunday morning listening covered with The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin on Newstalk ZB.

The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Jo Robertson: Make Sense co-founder on Spark becoming New Zealand's first internet provider to join the Internet Watch Foundation

You are Here by David Nicholls – Marnie and Michael are brought together by a mutual friend. Marnie doesn’t get out much and feels as though life is passing her by – and Michael’s a newly separated teacher trying to survive in his new single life. They embark on a hike across the Lake District - the landscape in this book is vivid and real, you could be walking it yourself - and as they find their place in the world, so too do they find their place together. From the author of One Day which is currently popular on Netflix - David Nicholls has written another masterclass about the roads down which life can lead you.

Magic Pill by Johann Hari. This is a look at the new diet drugs which are gaining huge popularity, in particular Ozempic – which the author started taking himself to understand the benefits as well as any down sides, and it’s a very personal look at it. The drugs are so new that no one knows what the long term impacts might be, but in the meantime Ozempic, in particular, has become a new fashion item, magically helping people lose huge amounts of weight and appearing to transform their lives.

LISTEN ABOVE

You are Here by David Nicholls – Marnie and Michael are brought together by a mutual friend. Marnie doesn’t get out much and feels as though life is passing her by – and Michael’s a newly separated teacher trying to survive in his new single life. They embark on a hike across the Lake District - the landscape in this book is vivid and real, you could be walking it yourself - and as they find their place in the world, so too do they find their place together. From the author of One Day which is currently popular on Netflix - David Nicholls has written another masterclass about the roads down which life can lead you. 
Magic Pill by Johann Hari. This is a look at the new diet drugs which are gaining huge popularity, in particular Ozempic – which the author started taking himself to understand the benefits as well as any down sides, and it’s a very personal look at it. The drugs are so new that no one knows what the long term impacts might be, but in the meantime Ozempic, in particular, has become a new fashion item, magically helping people lose huge amounts of weight and appearing to transform their lives. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Joan's picks: You are Here and Magic Pill

BloggerAtLarge's Megan Singleton is off on a Nashville adventure overseas.

She highlighted the live bands, the country bars, and the Opry as her personal highlights - and purchased a pair of authentic cowboy boots.

LISTEN ABOVE

BloggerAtLarge's Megan Singleton is off on a Nashville adventure overseas.
She highlighted the live bands, the country bars, and the Opry as her personal highlights - and purchased a pair of authentic cowboy boots.
LISTEN ABOVE

Megan Singleton: BloggerAtLarge writer on her highlights and recommendations from Nashville

This week on the Sunday Panel, editor Jo McCarroll and NZ Herald senior writer Simon Wilson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!

As retail crime amps up, security guards want more workplace protections and legal power to detain criminals. Will these measures help cut down on crime?

NZ First leader Winston Peters has pledged to introduce a members bill requiring separate unisex and single-sex toilets in all new publicly accessible buildings. Is this really an issue New Zealanders should be concerned about?

Some common British insults like 'ninny', 'nitwit', 'prat' or 'git' are being forgotten by younger generations. Do we need to work to keep these words alive before cruder words replace them altogether.

LISTEN ABOVE

This week on the Sunday Panel, editor Jo McCarroll and NZ Herald senior writer Simon Wilson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!
As retail crime amps up, security guards want more workplace protections and legal power to detain criminals. Will these measures help cut down on crime?
NZ First leader Winston Peters has pledged to introduce a members bill requiring separate unisex and single-sex toilets in all new publicly accessible buildings. Is this really an issue New Zealanders should be concerned about?
Some common British insults like 'ninny', 'nitwit', 'prat' or 'git' are being forgotten by younger generations. Do we need to work to keep these words alive before cruder words replace them altogether.
LISTEN ABOVE

Jo Robertson: Make Sense co-founder on Spark becoming New Zealand's first internet provider to join the Internet Watch Foundation

In 1 playlist(s)

The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips