In this episode of Untidy, Matty and Hannah are joined by Kate Whitaker, Senior Advisor at Te Mana Whakaatu Classification Office for New Zealand and an expert in education and outreach. She has over a decade of classroom teaching and facilitation experience under her belt and is driven to enhance the lives of New Zealanders through practical resources for whānau and teachers, helping them to have open kōrero about challenging topics like harmful media and pornography.

Kate’s work focuses on empowering youth, caregivers, and educators to build critical media literacy skills and break down the stigma surrounding these conversations. She shares actionable strategies to help parents feel equipped to guide their children through today’s media landscape, encouraging resilience and critical thinking rather than fear of what can feel like a daunting prospect in this modern era of parenting.

This episode delves into the importance of moving away from ‘moral panic’ and toward proactive, meaningful discussions and teaching self-management skills to tamariki and rangatahi youth. Kate highlights the tools available to New Zealanders for addressing these issues with confidence, offering insights into the role we all play in creating a safer, more understanding environment for young people.

Find the resources mentioned in this episode:

• Te Mana Whakaatu Classification Office website

• Classification Office resources for parents and educators

• Find a viewing rating

• NZ Classification Office on Instagram

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