Psychologist Nigel Latta well received in Levin

Nigel Latta's talks were well received in Levin.

Clinical psychologist, parenting expert and television personality Nigel Latta made two appearances in Levin this week - a booked-out talk on parenting, and a business breakfast talk about human dynamics and interpersonal relationships.

His Adventures in Parentland presentation on Tuesday evening at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō was a hilarious, pragmatic and down-to-earth talk about parenting, and teenagers in particular.

Highly entertaining, Latta's style engaged the audience, who laughed, clapped and exchanged glances of revelation as he outlined the unique challenges of communicating with your offspring in a relatable way.

Latta gets that swearing can be used for humour and emphasis, rather than thrown into speech for no reason - and he certainly used plenty of profanity to make his points, although it seemed to fit.

His presentation was more 'stream of consciousness' than scripted, but he knows his stuff well and is so passionate and experienced that it would have been hard for anyone in the audience to have not gone away armed with food for thought.

And while he certainly covered many different topics and approached for dealing with teens, when it comes to parenting, Latta said, there are three things that are the most important of all - relationship, relationship, relationship.

The next morning he gave a second address to business and community leaders about the changing dynamics of business - basically charting the existence of the human race to its present condition in an hour and half.

There were more than 200 in the room and after initial problems with the sound system were ironed out, he launched into his talk.

The crux was to emphasis how quickly technology - and the world - was evolving, and the need for a strong ethical approach to business. "Making people's lives better" was a catchphrase.

He strongly advocated meditation for stress relief and as a way of dealing with modern pressures, and said he meditated every day.

He used his own examples of brand loyalty, citing the great personal service he had from one airline employee meant he felt he was letting her down if he took his custom elsewhere.

There was no great secret to life but a good start was to eat and sleep well were the fundamentals to living well.

Both events were popular and well-received, said Horowhenua District Council's Civic and Community Events Coordinator Melissa Steedman. She said Parentland was fully booked, with around 200 people attending Mr Latta's presentation at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō on Tuesday night.

The next morning, 130 people attended the Nigel Latta business breakfast, The Revolution Revolution.

Steedman said both events were very successful.

"We were delighted with the turnout for both and we will look at inviting Nigel Latta back for further sessions," she said.