Te Rerenga June 2022

Te Rerenga June 2022

News from the Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation

The Men’s Health Group tackled the Mauao base track. Pictured (from left) Laeton Packer, Phil Back, Dr James Peckett, Chris Dever, Nick Page (seated) and Ngāi Te Rangi chairman Charlie Tawhiao.

Small steps, big gains for tāne Our PHO is ‘walking the talk’ by forming a new health group devoted to improving men’s health. The Men’s Health Group, made up of

their health, but are more likely to in an

staff, iwi partners and Friends of the PHO,

environment where they are comfortable,

kickstarted activities with a walk around

such as at a BBQ, over coffee or during a

Mauao followed by coffee at a local café.

physical activity.

The event coincided with Men’s Health

“While we’re not directly targeting

Week and is the first of what is likely to be

specific co-horts of men in the Bay of Plenty

monthly activities aimed at making it easier

with our health messaging just yet, we do

for men to have conversations about their

have the ability to walk the talk.

health and wellness. Group facilitator and PHO chief financial officer Laeton Packer says the casual gettogethers will be a chance for participants

“The journey to better health needs to start somewhere and, as men within the PHO, we can actively role model.” This year’s Men’s Health Week

to open up in spaces where they feel

highlighted some alarming statistics for

comfortable.

Kiwi men. A boy born today will live nearly

“We know that men don’t tend to proactively talk to each other about

four years less than a girl born in the room next door. He will be over 20 per cent more Story continues next page ...

wboppho.org.nz