More Help for Kiwi Mums at Hand

16 October 2012

More Help for Kiwi Mums at Hand

Fairfax Media launches new website to support the parenting journey

Essential Mums, a new online website launched today by Fairfax Media, is designed to offer guidance and support for Kiwis Mums on their parenting journey from conception to teens. The new website follows on from the success of Fairfax Media’s sister parenting sites Essential Baby and Essential Kids in Australia.

Editor of Essential Mums, Kate Geenty, has more than 12 years’ experience as a journalist, and having recently returned from maternity leave is primed for the new challenge.

"With Essential Mums we wanted to create a source of support and knowledge for would-be and new Mums to make their transition into parenthood as easy and fulfilling as possible. The website will be a hub for news, opinion and conversation with other New Zealand Mums,” says Geenty.

"While articles about parenting will be an important component of the site, we will also look at broader lifestyle and relationship issues facing women today. With sections such as Pregnancy, Baby, Little Kids, Big Kids, Mum’s Life, Family Life and Community, we are committed to assisting Kiwis every step of the way."

To ensure Kiwi Mums are getting the best possible advice, Essential Mums is partnering with a panel of experts to address the myriad of parenting needs. The expert panel will include a Masterchef finalist, a fitness guru, a nutritionist, a financial expert and a father of three girls. These experts will discuss a wide range of topics from conceiving to childcare and single parenthood to post-natal depression.

At the core of the website will be a variety of interactive forums, designed to give Mums the opportunity to connect with others in similar situations. This will also generate an encyclopaedia of knowledge and experiences for parents to refer back to. The website will also feature interactive tools such as a due date calculator, an ovulation calculator and a baby name finder.

Sinead Boucher, Group Digital Editor at Fairfax Media, explains the rationale behind the launch of the new website.

“Having seen the success of our Essential Baby and Essential Kids websites in Australia, we identified the need for a source of tried and trusted local knowledge for our Kiwi Mums. A digital platform is the most effective and interactive way to help parents – allowing them to become part of a community without placing undue stress and additional time requests on their already busy lives."

"This website is the latest in digital offerings from Fairfax Media, following the launch of Stuff Nation and Link+, and we look forward to building an online community where Mums can go for expert information, tools and guidance. ”

To discover more of what Essential Mums has to offer, visit www.essentialmums.co.nz.

Ends

About Fairfax Media
Fairfax Media is an innovative, integrated multi-media business with strong brands across multiple platforms including newspapers, magazines and digital.

Fairfax Media has two national, nine daily and more than 60 community newspapers, 25+ magazines, and market leading website stuff.co.nz.

About the Experts
• Jane Yee: Jane will be Essential Mums resident blogger and is a former winner of the Canon Best Blog Award
• Colleen Simpson: Colleen will provide a ‘how to’ craft section for Essential Mums. This section will run as a photo tutorial where parents can get craft ideas and tips
• Marianne Hoshek: Marianne is a fitness expert who has helped many new mums get back into shape following pregnancy. She will provide a series of fitness videos so Kiwi Mums can make the most of her expertise from the comfort of their own home
• Jax Hamilton: Jax reached the final of New Zealand Masterchef in the second season of the show. She will contribute to Essential Mums from a food/nutritional point of view, encouraging parents to cook healthy meals for themselves and their families
• Dean Stewart: Dean is CEO of Websafety NZ and will provide insight into keeping children safe when using the internet and mobile devices
• Lea Stening: As a qualified nutritionist, Lea will provide a monthly column and Q&A on child and family nutrition
• David Kneebone: Dave is the executive director at the Commission for Financial Literacy & Retirement Income. He will write a monthly column addressing family finance issues
• Jamie Troughton: A former columnist for Little Treasures magazine and dad of three girls, Jamie will write a twice-weekly blog on parenting from a dad's perspective
ends

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