Growing ‘WildDad’ movement comes to Waikato

Monday, 15 June 2026

An online child safety advocate is set to launch the first Waikato ‘outpost’ of a nationwide movement designed to help fathers spend more meaningful time with their children, an idea born from years of hearing some of the country’s most distressing stories.

Rob Cope, best known for his work educating families about online safety and child exploitation through his Our Kids Online, founded WildDad as a direct response to the darker side of his professional life.

“My work is so f…… depressing,” Cope said.

“I’m just hearing the worst stories all the time and I’m like, I need to create something that is incredibly positive that’s part of the solution.”

Cope and his wife Zareen became interested in online child safety while researching their 2020 documentary Our Kids Online: Porn, Predators & How to Keep Them Safe.

He also tours schools talking to parents and caregivers’ about the online dangers their children can face and has been a vociferous campaigner against the targeting of children on platforms such as Roblox, which he labelled “one of the biggest sexual predator grooming grounds in the world”.

He said he created WildDad to get out of that “sewer” and to create positive change.

The initiative encourages fathers and father figures to regularly take part in outdoor adventures and activities alongside their children. Rather than dropping children off at organised programmes, adults are expected to participate alongside them.

Cope said the concept grew from a personal realisation that time with his own children was slipping away.

“My youngest just turned 16 and I am like, I wish this was around 10 years ago, 15 years ago,” he said.

“I had so much intention of having the best adventures with my kids. Then life gets busy.”

The idea appears to have struck a chord with families across the country. Since launching just four months ago, WildDad has established 13 locations from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island.

Cope believes part of the appeal is that many fathers want to spend more quality time with their children but often struggle to organise activities.

“Most of us dads want to have these awesome adventures. We’re just not particularly good at meeting up with other dads and making it happen,” he said.

The inspiration partly came from Cope’s experience helping at a Scouts group, where he noticed parents were often missing out on the fun their children were having.

“We were lighting fires on the beach and cooking on open fires and hiking in the bush in the dark and making a hot chocolate at the top of the hill,” he said.

“I’m like, we need something like that where dads can actually show up.”

Each WildDad group plans its own activities, which can range from bush walks and campfire cooking to frisbee golf, bowling and other family-friendly adventures.

Fathers commit to attending regular sessions with their children, while leadership rotates among members.

But Cope says the organisation is about much more than outdoor recreation.

At its core, WildDad is designed to strengthen relationships between fathers and children, creating the trust and communication needed to navigate modern challenges.

“What this does is it builds a relationship with your kids,” he said.

“It’s very hard to speak into your child’s life if you don’t have a relationship with them.”

Cope believes stronger family connections can help parents guide children through issues such as online safety, technology use and other risks young people face.

The programme is also creating support networks among fathers.

“A lot of us dads don’t have a good support network,” he said.

He recalled learning that one WildDad member had recently checked in on another father who was struggling, despite having known him for only a month.

“They’re already supporting each other and that almost makes me feel quite tearful because how brilliant is that?”

While WildDad is aimed at fathers, participation is not limited to biological dads. Grandfathers, uncles, stepfathers and other positive male role models are also welcome.

“You are the positive role model in this child’s life,” Cope said.

For Cope, the goal is simple: create opportunities for connection before time runs out.

“This is something I wish was around,” he said.

WildDad is set to launch in Cambridge at Stables on Alpha at 7.30pm on Wednesday June 17.