Anti-porn crusader to speak to Bay kids

Melinda Tankard Reist will speak in Tauranga next week. Photo/supplied

An Australian anti-porn crusader will speak at Tauranga schools and a church next week.

Melinda Tankard Reist advocates against "sexploitation", and the objectification and sexualisation of woman and girls to sell products.

The well-known author and speaker will be in the Bay to talk about the link between pornography and violence, and the need to promote healthy body image in girls.

Next Wednesday she will be at Lifezone Church in Judea to give a lecture called 'Too Sexy Too Soon: what media, internet, marketing and pop culture are teaching your children and what you can do about it'.

The free event will start at 7pm, and will be geared toward parents, teachers and educators. Doors open at 6.30pm.

In the following days she will deliver the same message tailored to a younger audience to 1500 teenagers at organised school and youth group events.

Tankard Reist's visit to Tauranga was arranged by local not-for-profit company Safe Surfer, which has developed porn-blocking technology for families.

Rory Birkbeck, who co-founded Safe Surfer with Aaron Sinclair, said local families needed to hear Tankard Reist's message.

"Melinda is one of the world's best presenters on the damage advertisers and pornography can do to our youth and she has a huge ability to shift our current highly sexualised youth culture.

"Her 'Collective Shout' campaign has huge momentum in Australia and has forced some of the biggest retail brands to withdraw inappropriate products and axe commercials thanks to sheer public pressure.

"Her message directly to Bay school students will be equally as powerful. Pornography, the internet and sexualised advertising are all having a direct impact on the way they view their own self-image, love and relationships."