About
Men's Health Trust New Zealand (MHTNZ) is a not-for-profit Trust established in July 2007 for the advancement of all aspects of men's health in New Zealand. MHTNZ will be a major catalyst in changing the way New Zealand men think about their health.
Our plan is to promote men's health by helping to improve access to and benefits from health services for men of all backgrounds and ethnic groups.
We believe that education on health matters is a high priority for New Zealand men, and that current statistics can be greatly improved when men understand their physical and mental well-being and take responsibility for their health.
What is Men's health?
"Men's Health" is usually defined as being related to specific medical conditions:
"A disease or condition unique to men, more prevalent in men, for which risk factors are different for men, or for which different interventions may be required for men".
This definition covers obvious conditions like prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction and all the other clearly male issues, but a much wider definition is required. We are really talking about the overall physical, mental, social and spiritual wellbeing of men as individuals, in relationships and in society.
Much of this follows the same themes as the health of women, but with the important acknowledgement that men differ in many respects. It follows that health care and maintenance for men needs to be approached and managed in a different way.
Who we are
Men's Health Trust New Zealand is made up of a group of Trustees, from a variety of business and professional backgrounds, who believe that we can make an important difference to men in New Zealand. Some of us have considerable experience in fundraising for other organisations. We have legal, accounting, communications and medical representatives to ensure that our efforts and aims are effectively developed and promoted with integrity.
View Trustees >>
Why Men's Health?
Men lag behind women in many health areas. Figures for smoking, alcohol consumption, weight and nutrition are poorer for New Zealand men. With cancer, elevated blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, diabetes and in heart disease, outcomes are significantly worse for men.
Men suffer more than women with injuries, both work and non-work related. They die on our roads more than women and are disabled much more than females.
Our Values
We are:
Supportive - we are here to support men and encourage them to place more value on themselves, we are a partnership, we are encouraging of a positive experience
Direct - we tell it straight, we are concise and clear in our language, we can make the tough calls
Trusted - we are reliable and committed to our cause, we are down to earth
Respectful - we are people focussed, we think about the individual and are cognisant of their individual sensibilities
MHTNZ is committed to the improvement of outcomes for the health of New Zealand men. We believe that a "partnership" rather than a proscriptive model of health is what men want and need.
We believe that men need encouragement, not blame, when being assisted to raise their health status and awareness. We understand that some groups of men are at greater disadvantage in many respects in this area compared to other groups.
