Waikato Business News | March 1, 2024

2 MAY 2024
Editor
Roy Pilott
027 450 0115
News
Mary Anne Gill
021 705 213
Viv Posselt
027 233 7686
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viv@goodlocal.nz
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Janine Davy janine@goodlocal.nz
027 287 0005
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David Mackenzie
david@goodlocal.nz
Office
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Also publishers of
Shedding some light
Menz Sheds are enjoying a growing profile in Waikato communities – we look at
why they are regarded as important.
The demands for a place for
men to be with other men
is increasing every year,
especially among older men as
more and more of them reach
retirement age.
Last year it was recognised by
the World Health Organisation
that loneliness affects a
substantial portion of men over
the age of 50, and I Canada,
58 per cent of men in this age
bracket reported experiencing
loneliness. Similar figures
apply across New Zealand and
Australia.
Loneliness has been identified
as a major killer of older men,
and is said to be responsible
for more sickness, suffering, and
death than any other cause.
In both New Zealand and
worldwide membership of
Menz Sheds is increasingly
being seen as a major method of
combatting such loneliness, and
with helping men cope more
easily with a range of illnesses
that regularly confront older
males.
“As men get older, they often
face major changes in their
lives,” says Te Awamutu Menz
Shed chairman Richard Cato.
“They can suddenly find
themselves with nothing to do
due to retirement, through loss
of a partner or close friends,
geographical separation from
family, or health issues. And
they often have smaller circles of
friends than women do, so they
get less opportunity to share
their concerns with others,” he
says.
“Many older couples find that
when one or other retires, the
sudden closeness with each other
all the time creates difficulties.
So, joining up with a Menz Shed
gives the man a chance to escape
the stresses of ‘the underfoot
syndrome’. It also provides
his wife with some ‘breathing
space’ as well. We often find
that women are among the most
ardent supporters of Sheds,”
says Cato.
He says some men join a Shed
“just for the pleasure of having
a mug tea and a yarn with other
blokes”. But they can also find
that talking helps cope with
stress or health problems. There
is a growing understanding that
“keeping an eye on each other”
is all part of the value of being
Shed members.
It is noted that in Australia,
where there are about
1300 Men’s Sheds, the
Federal Government is now
acknowledging the considerable
social and health values of the
organisation and has been
providing grants annually since
2010 to assist individual Sheds
continue important work in
helping with men’s wellbeing.
Late last year it gave $500,000
to be used by nearly 90 sheds
across the country on such
projects as organising dementia
awareness sessions, healthy
cooking classes, the purchase
of new tools, hosting health
and practical workshops, yoga
classes, and CPR refresher
training courses.
There are now more than125
Sheds throughout New Zealand,
with at least 2500 members.
Numbers are increasing every
month. Across the Waikato,
there are 15 Menz Sheds - one
in most towns, with Cambridge
being the newest.
Morrinsville, which recently
built a large new Shed, has
increased its membership by 25
per cent in the past two months.
Now, with the extra space, they
can offer more services for the
members. Their shed includes
a large smoko room, ideal
for health professionals and
supporting services to meet with
the men.
“The great value of these
Sheds is that they are a safe
and relaxed place for men to go,
to enjoy companionship, and to
quietly seek help with health
and wellbeing issues if they want
to,” Cato says.
“Sheddies, as they are known,
often work on community
projects, personal tasks, and
carry out repairs on all sorts
of items for
members of the
public. Carpenters
and engineers
help lawyers,
accountants, and
teachers gain
Richard Cato
new skills, and in return they
sometimes learn professional
skills. The comradeship between
men from all walks of life is
wonderful,” he says.
“Menz Sheds are places
where men can contribute
to their communities, have a
sense of belonging, and create
a meaningful purpose, coupled
together with old-fashioned
mateship.”
Information on the Menz
Shed movement can be found
here – menzshed.org.nz
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procedures. A complaint must first be directed in
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editor’s email address.
If not satisfied with the response, the complaint
may be referred to the Media Council P O Box 10-
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correspondence with the publication.
“Sheddies” busy working in their new Morrinsville home.
Tim van de Molen
Your MP for Waikato
Backing Waikato Businesses
Tim.vandeMolenMP@parliament.govt.nz
0800 GET TIM (0800 438 846)
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