Nigel's last-ever lesson 'THE ONE THING THAT MATTERS'

Before his tragic death, the beloved psychologist had a final message to share

- Donna Fleming

It’s his final gift to the people of New Zealand. On Tuesday, September 30, Nigel Latta’s book Lessons on Living went into bookstores around the country. He died from cancer that same day.

In his three decades as a clinical psychologist turned author and broadcaster, Nigel, 58, touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of Kiwis with his wisdom and insights on everything from parenting to avoiding being scammed.

Among the thousands of tributes that poured in on social media after his wife Natalie Flynn shared the sad news about his death were posts from people who spoke of how he helped them through tough times, particularly when it came to raising kids. They described his books as a lifeline, thanked him for being a reassuring voice in a chaotic world, and praised his compassion, kindness and humour.

"What a fabulous human he was," wrote one. "What a loss to the nation."

And now Nigel has left us with a profoundly wise, deeply personal explanation of the tools he used to navigate the ups and downs of his life with strength, resilience and joy, and which he hoped others might find helpful.