Last updated: 05/05/2025
For: Barrier Times app and community features on aoteagbi.news
Our community
Barrier Times serves Great Barrier Island—a small community where words and listings have real-world impact. We provide spaces to discuss local news, share deals, list events, and contact each other respectfully. These guidelines explain what we expect and how to report problems.
What we encourage
- Civil, good-faith discussion about local issues
- Accurate, helpful event and deal information
- Constructive feedback and local news tips
- Respect for privacy—don’t share others’ personal details without consent
What is not allowed
Content or behaviour may be removed and accounts restricted if it includes:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Abuse & harassment | Threats, bullying, repeated unwanted contact |
| Hate & discrimination | Attacks based on race, gender, sexuality, religion, disability, etc. |
| Violence & illegal activity | Incitement, instructions for harm, clearly illegal offers |
| Sexual content | Pornography or exploitative material |
| Misinformation | Deliberate falsehoods that cause harm (assessed in context) |
| Spam & scams | Repetitive promotion, phishing, fraud |
| Privacy violations | Doxxing, sharing private contact details to target someone |
| Off-topic commercial use | Advertising outside permitted listings/features |
We may also remove content that is off-topic, duplicated, or otherwise unsuitable for a local newspaper community platform.
Where these rules apply
Reporting and moderation currently cover:
- Article comments
- Discussion posts (community board)
- Deal / market listings
- Events (including listings with an assigned organiser)
Direct messages can be blocked; serious abuse should also be reported to us (see below).
How to report in the app
- Find the three-dot menu (⋯) on the content (comment, post, deal, or event where an organiser is shown).
- Tap Report.
- Confirm the report.
What happens next
- Reports go to the Barrier Times editorial team for review.
- We may remove content, warn the member, disable commenting, or suspend accounts.
- We may mark reports as reviewed or dismissed after investigation.
- We may not always notify you of the outcome (to protect privacy and safety), but serious patterns are prioritised.
Block someone
Use Block in the same menu (or from a message thread) to:
- stop direct messages from that person;
- hide their content from your view in comments, discussions, and deals lists.
Blocking is personal to your account; it does not automatically remove content for everyone. Report content that should be reviewed for the whole community.
Report by email
If you cannot use the app, or the issue is urgent (e.g. threats, safety of a child, illegal material):
Email: [email protected]
Subject line: Content report
Include:
- link or description of the content;
- screenshot if possible;
- date/time;
- why you are reporting it.
For immediate danger, contact New Zealand Police (111) first.
Event organiser claims
If an event has no listed organiser, members may Claim event in the app. Claims are not automatic—staff verify before edit access and organiser messaging are granted. Disputes about who runs an event should be reported to [email protected].
News tips (“Send Your News”)
Tips submitted for publication may be edited for clarity, length, and style. Submission does not guarantee publication. Do not include private information about others without their consent.
Appeals
If your content was removed or your account restricted, you may appeal once by email to [email protected] with your account email and a brief explanation. We are not obliged to reinstate content or accounts.
Harmful Digital Communications (New Zealand)
If you are harmed by digital communications, you may also use Netsafe and related NZ processes: netsafe.org.nz.
Staff & publisher content
Comments on news articles reflect readers’ views, not necessarily Barrier Times’ editorial position. We moderate community spaces but cannot monitor every message in real time.
How to report
In the Barrier Times app
You need to be signed in to report or block.
Report a comment, discussion post, deal, or event
- Open the item in the app.
- Tap the ⋯ (three-dot) menu on the content.
- Tap Report.
- Confirm Report.
Our team will review it. You’ll see a confirmation when the report is submitted. We may not contact you about the outcome.
Report applies to:
- Comments on news articles
- Posts on Discussions
- Deals listings
- Events that have a listed organiser
Block someone
From the same ⋯ menu, tap Block. That person:
- cannot message you; and
- their content is hidden from your view in comments, discussions, and deals.
Blocking is for your account only. If you think content should be removed for everyone, use Report as well.
Direct messages
- Open the message thread and tap Block (top right) to stop further messages from that person.
- For serious abuse, also email us (below) so we can review the account.
By email
If you can’t use the app, or the issue is urgent:
Email: [email protected]
Subject: Content report
Please include:
- What you’re reporting (comment, post, deal, event, or message)
- The member’s name or any detail shown in the app
- A screenshot, if you can
- When you saw it
- Why it breaks our community guidelines
If someone is in immediate danger
Contact New Zealand Police — 111 first.
You can also get help from Netsafe about harmful online communications.
What we do with reports
Reports are reviewed by the Barrier Times editorial team. We may remove content, restrict accounts, or take no action if nothing violates our guidelines. Repeated or serious breaches can lead to suspension.
Event organiser disputes (who should manage an event listing) should be emailed to [email protected] — do not use Report for those.
Questions? [email protected]
Related policies
