NetSafe

Text bullying and harassment is when you get sent threatening, mean or offensive TXT or PXT messages from someone. It can happen to anyone who uses a mobile phone and is common amongst school age children and after a relationship break up.

If you receive text messages from an unknown number or unwanted texts it’s best to not reply.

Talk to someone you trust about the issue – a friend, parent or member of staff at your school. You can also speak with NetSafe staff during office hours on 0508 NETSAFE (0508 638 723).

Threats to harm? Contact NZ Police

If the messages include threats to physically hurt you then that is a crime and your first step should be to save those messages and show them to an officer at your local police station.

If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety dial 111.

You can make a formal complaint about receiving threats on a mobile phone and will be issued with a complaint number. If there are further threats then contact the police again.

Contact your telephone provider

Telecom companies in New Zealand are experienced at dealing with phone harassment and their customer services team will be able to assist you.

You need to ensure you do not reply to the text messages and you should make a note of the date and time that you received at least four bullying messages within a week.

To show that the messages are unwanted, the call list can only start from when you stopped replying.

Your phone company will liaise with the company where texts or calls are coming from and may be able to warn the bully, stop texts being sent from their account, temporarily block their account or deactivate them from the network.

Contact details:

• 2DEGREES:
  Call 200 from your phone or 0800 022 022
• ORCON MOBILE:
  Call 0800 13 14 15 or use the call investigation form on the Orcon website.
• SLINGSHOT MOBILE:
  Call 0800 89 2000
• TELECOM:
  Call 0800 809 806 between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday
• TELSTRACLEAR:
  Call 0800 299 500
• VODAFONE:
  Vodafone operates a free blacklist service for txt bullying. You can read more about blocking unwanted txts and pxts and responsible mobile phone use on their website. 

  If you want further help you can call them on 777 from your mobile or text ‘bully’ for free to 4001 and they will contact you.

Other organisations:

If you want support to deal with text bullying then you can also talk with the following specialist youth counselling services:

• Youthline
  Their helpline is 0800 37 66 33 or you can free txt 234
• What’s Up
  Their free helpline 0800 WHATSUP (0800 942 87 87) operates from 12 noon to midnight
• Lifeline
  They provide a 24/7 phone counselling service on 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland