Men’s Health Spotlighted At Conference

MENZSHED members gathered in Invercargill for a three-day national conference celebrating connection
Health expo brought vital services and support directly to members in an informal setting
Local attractions and Southland hospitality helped round out a successful and well-supported event

MENZSHED NEW ZEALAND members from around the country came together in Invercargill for their bi-annual national conference earlier this month. The three-day event, held from 4 to 6 April and hosted by the Invercargill Men’s Shed, focused strongly on connection, community and, importantly, men’s health and wellbeing.

With the Kelvin Hotel as the central hub, attendees were treated to Southland’s well-known hospitality. The conference programme included visits to several local sites, such as Niagara Timber, Fi Innovations, and E Hayes – famous for housing “The World’s Fastest Indian.” One highlight was a live demonstration of Carbatec’s “Sawstop” machine at the Invercargill Men’s Shed.

While the ‘Sheddies’ explored hands-on exhibits and machinery, their wives and partners enjoyed their own itinerary, including a bus tour with stops at The Seriously Good Chocolate Factory and a lunch at Folster Gardens.

A key feature of the conference was the Men’s Health Expo, designed to bring vital health services directly to members in a casual and welcoming environment. “This is about taking health checks and advice to where our men already are,” said one organiser. Attendees were offered free checks and information from major organisations such as the Heart Foundation, Prostate Cancer Foundation, Hearing Southland, Alzheimer’s Society, and Diabetes NZ.

The Men’s Health Expo attracted great interest from conference attendees. photo: supplied

Further insight and support were provided through talks by WellSouth PHO, mental health expert Zac Kim, and retired surgeon and local health advocate Murray Pfeifer. Work and Income NZ also spoke about the services they offer to older adults.

There are plans to roll out the Men’s Health Expo model nationwide, supported by The Selwyn Foundation. “We want to replicate this initiative across our 136 sheds,” said a MENZSHED spokesperson.

Saturday evening’s buffet dinner was capped off with a keynote speech from Southland’s own Keith Neylon, a veteran of the primary industries and author of A Touch of Madness, who shared entertaining stories from his life.

The conference wrapped up on Sunday morning with MENZSHED NEW ZEALAND’s Annual General Meeting, providing members the opportunity to reflect on their achievements and plan ahead.

Sponsors who helped bring the event together included E Hayes, Invercargill Licensing Trust Foundation, CARTERS, Carbatec, Go Bus, and Rothbury Insurance Brokers.

Related: