New Zealand age checks for social media stall ahead of election

New Zealand's National and Labour parties both back age assurance to keep under-16s off social media, but no law has passed. Labour vows to bring a bill through its first reading within 100 days if elected on November 7, while coalition partners ACT and NZ First oppose the measure.

• Labour pledges an under-16 social media ban within 100 days of taking office
• National introduced its own bill in August, but coalition partners withheld support
• ACT and NZ First call age checks a privacy threat and a naive fix
• Polls suggest no party will win a majority in the November 7 election