Hon Peter Dunne's Opening Address for Men’s Health Week
14 June 2010

Grand Hall, Parliament
10am, Monday, 14 June 2010

Good morning. It is a real pleasure to be here with you to launch Men’s Health Week in the very heart of government here at Parliament.

I think this venue reflects the importance of the week ahead, and how it should feature in our collective thinking.

Parliament is where we talk – some might say too much – think and decide on future directions for our nation.

Bringing men’s health literally and figuratively into this arena is as symbolic as it is perhaps overdue.

This morning I had my blood pressure checked on the front lawn of Parliament. It was definitely a gentle reminder to me that I need to practice what I preach here.

It’s a reminder to all of us.

Each man here; each man out there is a brother, a father, son, a husband, a partner.

Each man out there needs to look after himself for himself, but also for those around him who care for him, love him and depend on him.

Men’s Health Week, therefore, is part of valuing men in our society; something that needs to happen more.

As Associate Minister of Health, I have a particular interest in mental health due to my responsibilities in the areas of suicide prevention, alcohol and drug policy and problem gambling.

No doubt this issue, as well as the physical, will be a significant part of the week ahead.

In 2007, the year for which we have the most recent suicide statistics, 370 of the 483 people who took their own lives in New Zealand were men.

Those are sad and sobering statistics.

While there are complex issues behind them, there are also some simple and tangible things that we, as men, can do to manage stresses and maintain our own well-being.

At the most basic level these include making sure we look after ourselves by eating healthily, getting enough sleep and exercise.

It is simple, basic stuff, but it helps and it works.

We need to make time to relax and have fun with our friends and family.

We know that having a network of friends and family as well as at least one or two close and supportive relationships is important for our mental health, which then plays out in our physical health.

As men, we need to ensure we make time to develop and engage in these networks and relationships.

Or put more bluntly and simply. We need mates. Good mates. This week will in a sense help us engender that too.

It can go against the grain for a man to admit his vulnerability.

That applies to Kiwi men in particular, where a certain stoicism has always been regarded as a male strength – at times to our detriment.

We still do not as a society talk enough about men’s health, be it physical, mental or emotional. We do not talk to each other enough in those terms.

That is beginning to change. This week should help push that important journey along. It will make for healthier men and a healthier society.

I am going to cite two men who have played and are playing an extraordinary role in that.

They are two men whose names, I am sure, will fall off many tongues over the next seven days.

They speak of the physical health of men and the mental and emotional health of men.

They are the recently knighted Mad Butcher, Sir Peter Leitch, and a man who, as we Kiwis like to say, deserves a knighthood, John Kirwan.

The Mad Butcher – or perhaps Sir Mad Butcher – in his battle with bladder cancer, and with his willingness to use it to encourage men to get to their doctors when things start to go wrong; and JK, with his truly inspired and inspiring campaign for Kiwi men to open up and not be ashamed of their mental and emotional needs or issues.

Both men – these truly giant and giving men in our society – have one simple message – if you need help, get it. You’re worth it. Men are worth it.

No one could put it better. In a nutshell, that is what Men’s Health Week is about.

It really is an extraordinarily important week.

It is therefore my pleasure to officially declare that Men’s Health Week has begun.

Thank you.