When Nigel was asked to become the ambassador for Kenzie's Gift, he agreed without hesitation. He’s passionate about promoting the importance of psychosocial wellbeing for the tamariki / children of Aotearoa New Zealand and recognises the contribution we’re making.
Nigel believes it’s important to heighten awareness of the need to support our tamariki / children and mātātahi / young people when a whānau member is diagnosed with mate pukupuku / cancer or serious illness, or there is a bereavement within the whānau.
"It's not just the nature of the services Kenzie's Gift provides," says Nigel, "but also the strong evidence base behind those services. It is fundamentally important that families struggling with these kinds of issues receive support that is evidence-based rather than simply ‘well intended’."
Nigel works tirelessly with tamariki / children and mātātahi / young people as a Clinical Psychologist and his books and talks about parenting and raising tamariki / children have been hugely popular.
Upon completion of his marine science qualification, Nigel went to Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland where he trained as a clinical psychologist and worked there for a period of some 17 years in a number of agencies - Drug and Alcohol rehabilitation, Sex Offender Treatment Programmes, Family Therapy agencies, Child Youth and Family, Probation Services, as well as in private practice.
Nigel works as a clinical psychologist in private practice and continues to consult with organisations and agencies throughout the country working mainly with tamariki / children and mātātahi / young people, as well as adult forensic work. He lectures on a number of senior courses at the NZ Police College and is a frequently requested speaker at conferences and events for schools and organisations.
In addition to psychology, Nigel has published a number of books. These publications include a novel, followed by a non-fiction book published in 2004 about his work as a forensic psychologist called “Into the Darklands” which was the inspiration for a critically acclaimed television documentary series “Beyond the Darklands” which screens in both Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.
For a complete list of Nigel's publications and his latest news, visit his website.
If you or your whānau are affected by serious illness or grief, talk to us to see how we can help.
Jenny Zilmer, māmā to Nora and Lumi, shares some of the challenges she and her husband have faced and the lessons they’ve learned while parenting with grief.
If a young person in your life has lost a loved one, you may be feeling worried about what they’re going through and unsure of how to help them. We’ll talk about the emotions young people feel when they’re grieving, the ways they show those emotions, and the things you can do to support them.
Spending time in nature has huge benefits for tamariki / children, mātātahi / young people and their whānau/families experiencing grief. Whether we live in the city, the country or somewhere in between, the incredible landscapes of Aotearoa are an intrinsic part of our lives.
