Nigel Latta (born 1967) is a New Zealand psychologist and author. He is best known as the host of the television show Beyond The Darklands and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Teenagers.
Prominent psychologist Nigel has been in private practice for over seventeen years. He has worked with thousands of families and consults with many private and public organizations in New Zealand.
| Nigel Latta | |
|---|---|
 Nigel Raymond Latta ONZM is the host of the television show Beyond The Darklands. | |
| Quick Facts | |
| Full name: | Nigel Raymond Latta |
| Born: | 1967 (age 57 years) |
| Place of birth: | Oamaru |
| Nationality: | New Zealander |
| Education: | Zoology Marine Science |
| Alma mater: | University of Otago University of Auckland |
| Occupation: | Psychologist, author, presenter |
| Spouse: | Natalie Flynn |
Early Life
Nigel Latta was born in 1967 in Oamaru on the East Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. He is the second oldest of a family of four. He left home at the age of eighteen to study.
Education
Latta attended Waitaki Boys High School. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and a Master of Science in Marine Science from the University of Otago.
The psychologist then enrolled at the University of Auckland to train as a Clinical Psychologist. He completed his studies with a Master of Philosophy with First Class Honors in Psychology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology.
Career
Over the past seventeen years, Latta has worked with thousands of families and consulted with private and public organizations throughout New Zealand.
He entered the broadcast industry with the crime television series Beyond the Darklands, which ran for five seasons. He also presented other shows such as Politically Incorrect Parenting Show, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Teenagers, and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Being a Grownup.
Latta also presented the documentaries After the Quake and Surviving Teen Drivers. He also filmed the television programme ‘You’ve Been Scammed by Nigel Latta’, which teaches his audience about scams.
In 2010, Latta was invited to become an associate of the world-leading Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study at the University of Otago. He became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to psychology in 2012.
The psychologist works with families, does consultation with organizations, and speaks at conferences in New Zealand and abroad. In addition to his work, Latta has written eight books.
The presenter hosts Nigel Blows Stuff Up, a science series that started on 19 April 2015.
In 2016, Latta was a co-founder of the production company Ruckus Films. The company produced many award-winning documentaries.
Personal Life
Nigel Latta is married to Natalie Flynn, with whom he shares children. In 2024, he revealed he had been diagnosed with inoperable and incurable terminal cancer. He is undergoing chemotherapy that has shrunk the tumour by around 60 percent.
An initial diagnosis from his doctors revealed that he had 6 to 12 months to live. He published a video of himself talking about his diagnosis on social media.
Nigel said he had gone to his GP complaining about feeling full after eating very little and a ‘really uncomfortable sort of full feeling at the back of my throat’.
Publications
- Into the Darklands and Beyond: Unveiling the Predators Among Us.
- Politically Incorrect Parenting: Before your kids drive you crazy.
- The Politically Incorrect Guide to Teenagers: before your teenagers drive you crazy.
- Mothers Raising Sons: What every mother needs to know to save her sanity.
- Fathers Raising Daughters: The Father’s Guide to the Female mind-field.
- Battlefield Wisdom: Top tips for busy parents.
- The Modern Family Survival Guide.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2008–2012 | Beyond the Darklands | Presenter |
| 2009 | The Politically Incorrect Parenting Show | Presenter |
| 2011 | The Politically Incorrect Guide To Teenagers | Presenter |
| 2011 | After the Quake: Helping Children Cope | Presenter |
| 2012 | The Politically Incorrect Guide To Grownups | Presenter |
| 2014 | Nigel Latta | Presenter |
| 2015 | Nigel Blows Stuff Up | Presenter |
| 2015 | Nigel Latta in Antarctica | Presenter |
| 2016 | The Hard Stuff with Nigel Latta | Presenter |
| 2017 | Mind over Money with Nigel Latta | Presenter |
| 2017 | What Next? with Nigel Latta and John Campbell | Presenter |
| 2018 | Mind over Money with Nigel Latta season 2 | Presenter |
| 2018 | The Hard Stuff with Nigel Latta season 2 | Presenter |
| 2018 | The Curious Mind | Presenter |
| 2023 | You’ve Been Scammed By Nigel Latta | Presenter |
References
- Raphael Franks. “Kiwi TV star Nigel Latta reveals terminal cancer diagnosis: Psychologist has under year to live“. NZ Herald.
- “Nigel Latta at Speaker New Zealand“. www.speakers.co.nz.
