On first impressions, Dan, an easy-going and successful sales manager, may appear to have the world at his feet but, like many in life, he’s felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. Born in Taranaki and growing up in Christchurch, Dan struggled with his identity. Dan’s mother was of Māori descent while his father was Scottish. “I grew up in a space I felt disconnected to and I felt disconnected to who I was,” Dan says, “I didn’t belong in any world, Māori or otherwise.”

Support your partner's emotional journey, and rediscover deeper connection in your relationship. Do you feel like you are carrying the emotional load in your relationship? Many partners (often women) feel alone in trying to keep the relationship emotionally alive. You may sense your partner is shut down, overwhelmed, or simply unable to express what they’re feeling. That emotional distance can be painful and exhausting. You’re not alone - and things can get better. Essentiall

Empower your male clients with a structured, trusted group program that complements your clinical care. A trusted program with over 30 years of impact. Essentially Men offers powerful weekend workshops (Men Being Real being the flagship event) and an ongoing peer-supported community that helps men develop emotional resilience, communication skills, and authentic self-awareness. We work alongside counsellors, psychologists, and community organisations to support clients who ne

We recently won the chance, through One Day Video, to produce a video that speaks to what the Men Being Real programme and the...

Thoreau’s observation that ‘the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation’ resonates with me as I suspect it does for many New Zealand men. From a young age, our boys are taught not to cry and when things get tough, we are told to ‘harden up’ or ‘get over it’. Our culture rewards competitive behavior in men whilst men talking about their feelings is viewed as a sign of weakness. These stereotypical behaviors are now recognised as being incredibly damaging to generations of