Men's Health Week Launches In NZ

MEDIA RELEASE
11th June 2010

Men's Health Week Launches In NZ

TWO NEW ZEALAND MEN DIE IN NEW ZEALAND EVERYDAY OF A PREVENTABLE ILLNESS; with death rates for Maori men double that of non-Maori.

Men’s Health Week 2010 is a new campaign set to launch on the 14th June 2010 that aims to increase awareness of men’s health in New Zealand, encouraging men to take greater control of their health, which includes their physical and mental wellbeing.

Men’s Health Week 2010 is a campaign designed to coincide with International Men’s Health Week and aims to provide a national voice through which men’s health issues can be aired and highlighted. The campaign has been run successfully in Australia for the past three years, but this is the first time a campaign of its kind has been run in New Zealand.

It will be officially launched on the 14th of June in Auckland at a breakfast at Eden Park, hosted by the New Zealand Men’s Health Trust, and in Wellington, in The Grand Hall of Parliament hosted by Associate Minister of Health, Hon Peter Dunne.

Men’s Health Week 2010 is receiving a lot of positive support with the consensus being that men’s health is an area that has too long been in the background.

Executive Chair of General Practice New Zealand (GPNZ), Dr Bev O‘Keefe said that the evidence supporting a campaign such as this speaks for itself, “Statistics show that New Zealand men live on average 4 years less than women, and yet still remain much less likely to talk to a GP or nurse about their health. Along with making healthy lifestyle choices, a checkup with your family doctor or nurse once a year can be very beneficial in reducing the risk of many preventable diseases”.

Mark Vivian, CEO of the Stroke Foundation said that they are in full support of a campaign promoting greater awareness and prevention in the area of men’s health: “The Stroke Foundation is right behind Men’s Health Week. Latest research shows that men are at greater risk of stroke than women, with stroke being the second biggest single cause of death and the largest cause of disability in adults in New Zealand. We've got to get more men taking the simple steps to prevent early death and disability."

Men’s Health Week 2010 is supported by the Men’s Health Trust New Zealand, Mana Tane Ora o Aotearoa (National Maori Men’s Health Coalition), Carters, Registered Master Builders and Caltex.

A host of high profile ambassadors are also leading the way in recognizing the need to be real about their health, including Inga Tuigamala, Mahe Drysdale, Bull Allen, Dr Rhys Jones and Deputy Chief of Army, Brigadier Tim Keating.

More information about the key events of Men’s Health Week 2010 can be found on the website: www.menshealthweek.co.nz. A summary list is below.

A Men’s Health Week fact sheet is also available on request (mel@mwcmedia.co.nz)

ENDS

Events Summary

Monday 14th June:

0700 – 0900 - Men’s Health Week Auckland Launch – Eden Park 7.00am. Featuring John Banks, Inga Tuigamala and Andy Daltan (CEO of Auckland Rugby).

0900 – Christchurch Men’s Health Week event – “Tane Ora”, focusing on Maori Men’s Health in association with the National Maori Men’s Health Coalition.

1000 – 1100 – Men’s Health Week Wellington Launch @ Parliament (The Grand Hall). Hosted by Associate Minister of health Hon Peter Dunne. Featuring a blood pressure check for all MP’s in attendance. Deputy Chief of Army and Navy will be in attendance also.

1100 – Auckland: NZ Rugby League go for the “Full Monty” men’s health check at HealthWest. HealthWest are offering 500 free men’s health checks, featuring Tony Kemp, Ruben Wiki (former NZRL players) and Dan Floyd (NZRL coaching manager).

1200 – 1400 – Midland Park: Measure Your Pressure – St John’s are offering free blood pressure checks to men as a preventative health measure.

Tuesday 15th June

0700 – 0800 – Christchurch Blokes Breakfast with Carters @ The Chateu on The Park, Riccarton. Featuring Buck Shelford and free men’s blood pressure check.

1900 – 2100 - Bailey’s Irish Pub Men’s Health Night, Christchurch – Canterbury Mne’s Health Centre (Healthy Heart: Sports & Men).

Wednesday 16th June

0700 – 0800 – Wellington Blokes Breakfast with Buck Shelford, hosted by Carters. Free men’s blood pressure checks.

1900 – 2100 – Christchurch, Menz Medical, Prostate Cancer (Bailey’s Irish Pub, Cathedral Square).

Thursday 17th June

0700 – 0800 – Hamilton: Carters Breakfast at Mystery Creek Fieldays, featuring Buck Shelford and John ‘Cocksy’ Cocks.

0800 – 0930 – Christchurch: The NZ Defence Force Men’s Health Challenge – The Krypton Factor. Army vs Police at Burnham Military Camp NZ

1900 – 2100 – Christchurch: Menz Shed Evening, “How Men Get Over Challenges”. At Bailey’s Irish Pub, Cathedral Square. Shaun-Edwards Brown (Shortland Street Actor and Men’s Health Ambassador)

Friday 18th June

0900 – 1630 – Christchurch, Sad Blokes – An Introductory Workshop on Men, Depression & Suicide. Canterbury Men’s Health Centre.

ends

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