15 Nov 2013

Sex scandal raises education questions

10:14 am on 15 November 2013

Family Planning says there needs to be a shake-up in the way sex education is taught in New Zealand, following the Auckland sex scandal.

The organisation is one of a number of those involved in sex education which believe it needs to cover more than just practicalities.

However, some conservative groups would like parents to take over the role.

Family Planning chief executive Jackie Edmond says sex education must help young people learn about themselves.

She says given the recent events surrounding young men boasting online about having sex with underage girls, it is pretty clear young people are not being prepared by the education they are getting.

Catholic organisation Family Life International says there is too much talk about sex and no-one is teaching respect.

Communication director Michelle Kaufman says the message young people are getting now is that it is fine to have sex, providing everyone gives their consent.

But an Anglican minister in Gisborne, The Reverend Chris Douglas-Huriwai, says few young people are even getting that message.

"I still remember sex ed and that was what it was, like a banana and a condom and that's it, as if being a sexual being is all boiled down to that one thing when it's a lot more than that, you're talking about gender, identity, sexuality, being human."

Chris Douglas-Huriwai says he believes that when sex is not talked about in a comprehensive and more complex way, young people are the ones who suffer.

More about sexual education and the wider issue of sexual and reproductive health can be heard on Insight on Sunday.