Protect tomorrow, today
This article was prepared by nib and is being published by the New Zealand Herald as advertorial.
When life takes an unexpected plunge, will the people you love be protected?
No one likes to think about death. It can feel scary, or distant, and most of us would rather focus on the here and now.
But life doesn't always go to plan. An unexpected loss, diagnosis, or injury doesn't just bring fear, it brings financial stress and pressure for the whole family. Life and living insurance is one of the most important financial decisions you can make to protect your loved ones, ensuring they're financially secure no matter what the future holds.
At nib, we've seen time and time again how important it is to prepare for life's most difficult moments before they happen. Don't wait for catastrophe, act now.
For psychologist, presenter, and author Nigel Latta, one phone call made all the difference.
In mid-2024, Nigel received the news no one wants to hear. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer that was not only inoperable, but – they said – incurable. Nigel and his wife were left shocked, upset, and didn't know what to do. But they had to do something. They needed a lifeboat.
So the first call Nigel made after his diagnosis was to his insurance adviser, Andy. Like many people, Nigel couldn't remember anything about his life or living insurance policies and was reeling with worry. What if he hadn't paid it? What if it wasn't enough?
He was scared that he had let down the people he cared about the most – that he was going to leave them with a mortgage and huge medical bills on top of the grief.
But then Andy answered the phone, and Nigel discovered that he'd been on the right track ever since taking out his policy years ago. They had some early payouts which would help cover things and settle their initial fears. He says he felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders on what was one of the hardest days of his life.
When it feels like you're sinking, Life and Living Insurance provides a lifeboat.
If you've been injured or diagnosed with a serious medical condition, the last thing you want to be burdened with is financial strain. You want to focus on treatment and getting better. And in more serious cases of terminal diagnosis or unexpected death, you want the reassurance that your loved ones are taken care of once you're gone. It might be uncomfortable to think about, but that's why it's important to think about it now.
At nib, our mission is simple: empowering you to take control of you and your family's wellbeing so you can tackle whatever comes your way. That may be through our Life and Living Insurance options which can be tailored to suit your changing needs.
Because insurance isn't just some words on a page, it has the potential to give you the most important thing – time with your loved ones to focus on the things that matter. It's time that you can't get back.
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NZ Herald
5 days ago
- NZ Herald
Protect tomorrow, today
This article was prepared by nib and is being published by the New Zealand Herald as advertorial. When life takes an unexpected plunge, will the people you love be protected? No one likes to think about death. It can feel scary, or distant, and most of us would rather focus on the here and now. But life doesn't always go to plan. An unexpected loss, diagnosis, or injury doesn't just bring fear, it brings financial stress and pressure for the whole family. Life and living insurance is one of the most important financial decisions you can make to protect your loved ones, ensuring they're financially secure no matter what the future holds. At nib, we've seen time and time again how important it is to prepare for life's most difficult moments before they happen. Don't wait for catastrophe, act now. For psychologist, presenter, and author Nigel Latta, one phone call made all the difference. In mid-2024, Nigel received the news no one wants to hear. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer that was not only inoperable, but – they said – incurable. Nigel and his wife were left shocked, upset, and didn't know what to do. But they had to do something. They needed a lifeboat. So the first call Nigel made after his diagnosis was to his insurance adviser, Andy. Like many people, Nigel couldn't remember anything about his life or living insurance policies and was reeling with worry. What if he hadn't paid it? What if it wasn't enough? He was scared that he had let down the people he cared about the most – that he was going to leave them with a mortgage and huge medical bills on top of the grief. But then Andy answered the phone, and Nigel discovered that he'd been on the right track ever since taking out his policy years ago. They had some early payouts which would help cover things and settle their initial fears. He says he felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders on what was one of the hardest days of his life. When it feels like you're sinking, Life and Living Insurance provides a lifeboat. If you've been injured or diagnosed with a serious medical condition, the last thing you want to be burdened with is financial strain. You want to focus on treatment and getting better. And in more serious cases of terminal diagnosis or unexpected death, you want the reassurance that your loved ones are taken care of once you're gone. It might be uncomfortable to think about, but that's why it's important to think about it now. At nib, our mission is simple: empowering you to take control of you and your family's wellbeing so you can tackle whatever comes your way. That may be through our Life and Living Insurance options which can be tailored to suit your changing needs. Because insurance isn't just some words on a page, it has the potential to give you the most important thing – time with your loved ones to focus on the things that matter. It's time that you can't get back.
NZ Herald
17-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Broadcaster Nigel Latta shares journey with inoperable cancer diagnosis
'You know you're a bit f**ked when the surgeon is tearful,' says Nigel, 57. 'Initially, we were hoping it was just something that could be removed. Our friend Tanya, who's a doctor, came with us to the next appointment. That was when we learned I had an inoperable tumour at the bottom of my stomach, as well as lymph node activity away from the tumour.' Natalie, 56, admits that they pushed the surgeon to give them a prognosis. 'I told him, ' We're both psychologists – we can take it. How long does he have to live?' The poor surgeon was saying he really didn't like to do that because he didn't know for sure. But eventually he said, 'Alright, six to 12 months.'' Nigel admits he simply didn't know how to process the news. 'I felt like everything in my brain kind of unplugged. I remember looking up at the sky and thinking, 'I have no idea what to do now.'' The couple, who has five children aged from 14 to 24 between them, booked into a hotel to give themselves some time and space to work out what happened next. 'We wanted to gather our thoughts before we came back to see the kids,' shares Natalie. 'We made some decisions together that night. Of course we were devastated, but we pledged to each other to not to become bitter or take it out on anyone else.' The pair says they've been overwhelmed by the incredible support from family, friends and the public, who have watched Nigel throughout the years on Beyond the Darklands and The Politically Incorrect Guide To Parenting shows, as well as taking advice from his books. Nigel embarked on treatment, and a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and 'wonder drugs' meant his health was looking more positive. But then in December last year, he developed an ominous cough. 'Everything was dormant and looking really great,' says Natalie. 'When he started coughing, everyone was sure it wouldn't have spread to his lungs, but then the scans came back and they said, 'It looks like it's spread to your lungs.'' Nigel was told that if his new treatment didn't work, he had four weeks to live. 'At that stage, six to 12 months was sounding fantastic,' jokes Nigel. The drugs he's currently taking work for 62% of people, and they're helping Nigel, who's confident he'll now live for 'years and years'. Smiles Natalie, 'That's the thing with Nigel – he's so incredibly positive. He was immediately sure it would work.' Nigel believes there are two things that are good predictors of cancer survival – a positive outlook and a reason for living. 'I have both of those things – a good attitude and my app,' he laughs. 'No, no, of course it's Natalie. She's wonderful, fantastically clever, irreverent and fearless. I do really love the app too, though!' The app in question, Parentland, is something Nigel, along with Natalie, has poured hours into, in the hope of helping parents with evidence-based advice tailored to the unique developmental stage of each child. Nigel's always been acutely aware of the dangers of societal inequality, and hopes the app goes some way to bridging the gap for Kiwis who don't fall into the 3% of people who get into the public system and the vast majority who can't afford to pay for private counselling. 'I just believe everyone should be able to support their children through behavioural, eating or sleep issues,' explains Nigel. 'It shouldn't just be for the extreme sufferers or those who can afford a private psychologist. It's just not fair.' It was actually through the app that Nigel and Natalie first met. He'd been sent a copy of Natalie's book Smart Mothering to review and was wowed by it. 'It was a really good book, full of research and rigour,' he recalls. 'I thought it'd be good for the app. I was keen to get her on board, so I invited her to Circus Circus [café] for coffee.' Despite both studying psychology at the University of Otago, the pair had never previously crossed paths. At the time, Natalie had just had funding denied for group therapy for women with postnatal depression. 'I was so frustrated by that experience because it made absolutely no sense,' she tells. 'Seeing a psychologist one-on-one is so expensive, and this group would have reduced the cost by 80%. I was all for the app!' It was after Natalie separated from her first husband that Nigel summoned the courage to ask her on a date. 'Our relationship was sort of a slow burn at first because we were colleagues and friends,' he says. 'But after that first dinner out, we were pretty much bang in love. At least, I was!' Laughs Natalie, 'I wasn't far behind. Nigel's the kindest person. I love how clever, gentle and funny he is. We're always laughing. It just feels wonderful being together.' Nigel consulted Natalie's daughter about the style of engagement ring and 'shocked the hell' out of her with a romantic proposal in Queenstown in October 2022. Although Nigel wouldn't wish it on anyone, he does say that being diagnosed with incurable cancer crystallises what's important in life. 'The nice thing is that I enjoy working more now than I did before,' he enthuses. 'I always used to like doing speaking gigs. It was always kind of fun. But now it just feels like a real privilege to go and do it. 'I've been telling people that Parentland would be ready in three months for about a decade. After my diagnosis, I realised I needed to actually get this thing finished. Natalie and I have spent thousands of hours on it. It's here and people are now using it!' He also confesses he's much soppier. 'I think that's the gift of cancer,' he muses. 'Because I could have just spent the next 30 years taking everything for granted that's important to me, like most people. I think everyone knows that love is really the only thing that matters, but it's letting that change your behaviour.' To that end, Natalie accompanies him on any trips he takes for speaking events, and they work together on the app and in therapy. Natalie divides her time between the Shelley Beach Practice for eating disorders and working at home. Nigel joins in to help some couples therapy sessions. 'I genuinely love the fact our family business is helping people,' says Nigel. 'Being in love has changed the questions that I ask when I do couples work. I used to ask a lot about things that people enjoyed doing together, but now I'm much more interested in how people feel when they're together. Now when I see love, it's like, 'Oh, they'll be all right. Love is there.''
NZ Herald
17-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Dr Libby Weaver on New Zealand's iron deficiency, how to fix it and what's driven her 14th book
But not Weaver. Behind closed doors, the 50-year-old has been on a quest to resolve iron deficiency and its debilitating consequences once and for all. 'I can't bear unnecessary suffering,' the author tells the New Zealand Herald, revealing she gets 'choked up' when even using that phrase. 'There are so many people who have a really hard time in life that don't need to – and nutrition is a huge factor.' Weaver has always wanted to help, crediting her upbringing and a professor for fostering her desire to learn and pass on that knowledge. 'I grew up very, very simply – no one in my family had gone to university and I just loved learning,' she says. 'I just felt so privileged to be getting this education, but it's all wasted if I don't share the information that I have.' The realisation came when Weaver was presenting her PhD and a professor challenged her to 'do it as if you are on the 6pm news', explaining her research so the public could understand. Despite being put on the spot and not being prepared for the challenge, the biochemist says it was 'one of the best gifts ever'. ' It helped me see that it all gets wasted if I can't translate complicated things into ways people can understand and action. That little moment in time changed everything because it made me realise that was what I wanted to do – take things that would otherwise stay in laboratories or stay really complicated, that people couldn't necessarily access.' And that's what she's done with her latest book, the 14th in her collection – Fix Iron First: The One Thing That Changes Everything. The book started life as something different, but when Weaver , got 65,000 words in to the writing process, she realised that 11,000 of those words were about iron. 'It dawned on me that I really only wanted to talk about iron,' Weaver says, with a laugh. 'I'd seen how when we correct [iron], so many other things fall into place. So I changed course and went back and took those original 11,000 words and turned them into a book of their own.' So why iron? It's hardly the most hyped element and doesn't pack anywhere near the social media fanfare that protein and collagen do. ' Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency globally,' says Weaver, revealing it's most prevalent in menstruating women, pregnant women, athletes, toddlers and children. 'That really feels unacceptable to me – it's something that we can test for and can be easily recognised and yet we just don't seem to be doing a good job as a society at large. We're just not doing a good job at addressing it.' The author wanted to bring it to 'the top of the pile of conversation' so that people would address the deficiency and no longer accept living with the symptoms. 'We've sort of made health really complicated, and sometimes it's really simple things that make the difference,' she says. And Weaver gets it – making sure we hit all those magic nutritional numbers can feel impossible. What we need also changes with every age and stage of our life, she says. When it comes to symptoms of iron deficiency, Weaver says there are many, but the face is usually the first giveaway. 'Our faces become a little pale – that's your first telltale sign because we need iron to deliver oxygen to all of our cells.' For adults, fatigue and mood are also heavily influenced by a lack of iron, she says, citing a 2023 study titled Psychiatric Manifestations of Iron Deficiency Anaemia, which revealed anxiety was also a symptom of iron deficiency. 'They found that low iron levels were linked to anxiety, low mood, restlessness, heart palpitations and even symptoms that are often mistaken for depression. And they noted that essentially correcting the iron levels improved mood, reduced anxiety, and even alleviated symptoms.' But Weaver notes that iron deficiency looks different in everyone, with young children's symptoms, in particular, being hard to spot. 'They'll often have a pale appearance, they have a poor appetite, or they can be a picky eater,' Weaver says. 'In their little temperaments, there's a tendency to irritability and agitation. They find it difficult to concentrate. You might notice they have a rapid heart rate if you were to feel their pulse. They'd often develop and grow slower than is ideal. They have pale gums or a pale lining inside their eyelid.' Another surprising thing for parents to look out for is an aversion to meat. 'I've had lots of parents say to me, 'My child's a vegetarian, even though the family is not vegetarian'.' So what can we do to fix it? According to Weaver, much like anything, our focus needs to shift to recognising what's happening and then making small changes to our diets first. 'So the richest food source of iron is offal – not that that appeals to everybody – liver and those sorts of things.' For the organ-adverse, Weaver recommends the next best source – red meat. ' Red meat and lamb. If people don't eat those foods, then there's some iron in eggs and then our plant sources like lentils, legumes, peas, seaweed and parsley. Advertisement Advertise with NZME. 'It is widely spread throughout foods, but our absorption of it from our plant foods is typically poorer than it is from the animal sources.' For those looking to improve their general health, Weaver says there's one free thing we can all do right now to drastically alter it. 'Slow your breathing right down – the way we breathe has such a profound impact on the information that all of the cells in our body receive.' She says you can instantly spot when people aren't breathing correctly – the upper part of their chest is moving in sharp, shallow breaths. This is driven by adrenaline and can lead to health consequences, especially around sleep and clarity of mind. 'That type of breathing communicates to all the cells in our body that we're not safe,' says Weaver, suggesting that if you watch a healthy baby breathe, it's done so in the tummy. 'When we're small, we breathe diaphragmatically. Sadly, over time we move away from that – breathing in a way that is very disruptive to our body receiving the truth, which is that we are thankfully very safe. 'It sounds too simple to make a difference, but it is profound when we become more breath aware and slow our breathing down.' Helping people better understand what their body is trying to tell them is what keeps driving Weaver, and what will likely drive her 15th, 16th and 17th books to come. 'Part of what I try to do is evoke for people just how extraordinary their body is. Because I think if we lived a little bit more in touch with just how extraordinary it is, then we would live a bit more.' Jenni Mortimer is the New Zealand Herald's chief lifestyle and entertainment reporter. Jenni started at the Herald in 2017 and has previously worked as lifestyle, entertainment and travel editor.
