November 3, 2025 • 10 mins
This month marks the start of Movember, a month-long movement where men put down the razors for a good cause.
Movember was designed to raise awareness for men's overall health - including mental health, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
Movember Country Manager Robert Dunne joined ZB's Afternoons to explain further.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from news Talk zed Be
follow this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
We've been having a discussion about mental health and what
worked for you when you face the mental health challenges.
It is, of course November this month. It's an amazing
cause and charity. It raises a lot of money for
men's health, both mental and physical, and it's always a
lot of fun for the people involved as well. Raises
many many dollars and so someone who tacks through just
(00:39):
while we're having that conversation, as Robert Dunn, here's the
country manager for November in New Zealand, and he's on
the line now. Robert, very good to chat with you.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yeah, thanks for having me on Tyler or responding an here.
I hope your mustache is coming along. After a few
days of November so far.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
It's looking pretty good. I've got to say. I think Andrew,
my producer, would agree. There's a bit of bed going
along with it as well, but I'll shave off that
reft of the arrest of the bed and play my
partner mates. So it's a fantastic charity and it is worldwide.
How did it start here in New Zellan Robert, Yeah, you're.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Right, it's sort of. It's started unfortunately in Fitzroy, Australia,
but New Zealand was the second country to adopt it.
And basically, you know, if you look back twenty years ago,
there was nothing formalized for men. There was a lot
of charities for females and for kids and for famine,
and we did jump rote for hard and we did
all these sorts of things, but there was actually nothing
that was gender, nothing that looked out for men. And
(01:32):
the boys who started it, some hard case Australian guys
who are good friends, you know, looked around and saw that,
you know, prostate cancer was as big a threat to
a male as breast cancer is to a female. And
with that information they went to the Prospect Cancer Foundation
Australia and said, you know, we think, not only is
this a great you know, male fashion accessory, but it
could be a great charitable tool and a great conversation starter.
(01:54):
And then their wisdom that actually said thanks, but no thanks,
you guys are a bit weird and we don't want
to we don't want to align with you. But the
boys did it anyway and raised fifty thousand dollars that month,
went back and to aid that money, and they were like,
maybe you aren't so weird, maybe you're onto something. And
if we fast forward today, he Zellan jumped on board
second with an official November charity and campaign and now
(02:16):
it exists, as you said, Tyler, all around the world
and it's the largest funder of men's health initiatives outside
of government, which is pretty cool. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Absolutely. I mean, the old old mustache can be pretty
punishing for the other halves and men's life for that month,
but obviously the fun of it and that cheekiness of it,
The beauty with this of this campaign, Robert, is that
it opens up those conversations right for fellers.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Yeah, I think so, Tyler, Like you've had some fantastic
callers on this afternoon, and you know, the rarely is
there is no silver bullet. But one thing that we've
really realized works for men is that, you know, fun
is medicine. You know, like four men. Sometimes those early
conversations they do need to be informal, they do need
to be hard case, they do need to be around
mustache growth or the lack of or whatever it may be,
(03:03):
because that's how guys like to often start their interactions.
But you know, now that we've matured a little bit
over time, there's conversations turn to mentalth, conversations challenges that
we have in life, And like so many of your
callers have said, you know, reaching out, being vulnerable, asking
for help, you know, sharing some of the challenges in
life absolutely does work. And I really enjoyed one of
(03:24):
your previous callers that had on a really strong point
that we're actually getting a little bit better and asking
for help and talking and acknowledging the issue when I
first started movie them, but we couldn't even have a
conversation about mental health. But we are getting better. So
I always like to highlight that because we one hundred
percent are going in the right direction, there's just a
little bit more work to do. One thing that me
(03:45):
and in particular can do a little bit better is listen.
We love to jump in there with our sort of
number eight wire attitude and try and problem solve straight away.
If someone is brave enough to share a challenge with you,
it's important to validate that, realize that for them at
that point in time, it's something really significant, and it's
really hard for them to discuss that with you, so
(04:06):
validate it. You know, certainly, don't take that's nothing, and
you know, try and jump in there and say I
did this, Like actually just giving someone space to speak
for two or three minutes, that in itself is a
fantastic health tool and it's one that men aren't that
good at. And so that that whole listening thing, creating
a bit of space and time for someone to share
(04:26):
is actually a skill and one that we can really
improve that.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
There's some great resources on the website if anyone wants
to go check it out. I urged them to do
that at November dot com. And obviously you can donate
to the various people taking part. But the five things
men should know and do when it comes to their health,
Robert I love. It's nice and simple and you can
find it on the website. But a couple of things there.
Spend time with people who make you feel good. Talk
more that know the numbers, which is a great one,
(04:53):
know thy nuts simple, that's a fantastic one. That's a
big one.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
And move more.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Yeah yeah, and that exercise as well. But you know,
going back to those first two, spend time with people
who make you feel good and talk more clearly in
New Zealand. That has been something that US Fellers have
struggled with for for a long time. Do you think
it is it is improving on the whole.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
No, to be honest, like I think it's something that
we used to be probably a little bit better at,
and for a number of reasons, we're not as good
as we used to be. And it's it's amazing. Like
I always say, when it comes to men's health, you know,
it's our job. The services and some of the things
you've spoken about today are really important, but it's our
job in November and really as kiwis to take pressure
(05:37):
off the services to give me in good information to
help themselves and others. And like spending time with people
who make you feel good and top up your bucket
is really really important. And quite often I go into
different you know, I suppose high pressure and busy environments
and talk to people about that. And time is the
most valuable commodity. And we talk a lot these days
about being too busy to do things, but it's I
(05:58):
challenge people on that. And if you're not in any
given week or any given months doing something that tops
up your bucket and spending time with people that make
you feel good, then you're getting it wrong, you know.
And if you're spending time people who take out of
your bucket or you don't feel good about yourself and
that person. You know, we know when we're at our best,
and we should try really hard to create that environment
(06:19):
in that situation as much as we possibly can. And
if we go you know, months or even longer without
doing that, then of course we're going to be in
a bad place, you know. And connection as well. Like
you say, mate, it's just it's just so important. And
I really worry in that space that you know, we're
going to get twenty years down the line and we're
going to have to go to university to learn how
to interact with people. That's a that hyperbolic, but you know,
(06:40):
for some of our younger generation, you know, they are
getting brought up in an environment where you don't take cue.
You you know, you don't have to interact with people
too much if you don't want to. And I think
that's a real challenge for us.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Yeah, absolutely, and we can start to see that coming
to the fore now. But as you said, Robert, it
seems like it's a continuous you know, a work in progress,
and there's always you know, things that we can do
in New Zealand. Then as fellas to keep the conversation
open and alive and keep pushing forward.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Ay, oh totally mate. And as I sort of said previously,
like we are getting a lot of things right. You know,
there are places that I'm asked to come into now
that I never used to get invited into before, Like
there are so many workplaces now. They're trying to be
proactive in this space. And genuinely when I go out
and about, people want to help, like they absolutely do.
Like if you ask someone, you know, if you'll make
(07:29):
the struggling a level of what would you help them?
Everyone puts their hand up. Just a little different sometimes
is like have you told them that? Like do they
know that you know? And that's probably the bit we've
got to work on a little bit. But we are
absolutely going in the right direction. There's some fantastic work
that's going on that perhaps doesn't get held up in lights.
It's all the bad stuff that gets held up in lights.
But but quing men are not too bad. We we
(07:51):
just need a bit more encouragement and we just need
to give them really really good information so they can
help themselves and others.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Yeah, brilliant too. I have a chat with you, Robert
and promote this great a cause and campaign. How can
people support Movember if they're listening right.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Now, you totally mate. Just if you're growing or moving
or hosting or participating in November, thank you so much.
You just go to the website sign up, if you
know someone who's doing it, donate to the cause, like
it doesn't matter. It's five bucks, ten bucks, twenty bucks,
it all matters. That's the success of November as it's
just a heaps of people doing a little bit, which
is fantastic. And it's the same in mental health. Just
(08:26):
think of the one or two people who mean a
lot to you and just make sure that they understand
you've got their back and vice versa. And if we
do that on math, then we actually do move the dial,
which is really cool. And for all the ladies who
are listening, you know, no matter what it looks like,
just telling me looks handsome this month, you know, nicely
said Robert.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
And I've got to give a shout out to our
mates at the Alternative Commentary Collector. Absolutely and I've got
no sleep tool hole in the one campaign going on
at the moment, so that could take a long time, Robit.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
They could tell golfers bad golfers a very long time.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
They need all to help. They can get absolutely to
go check that out November dot com and give generously.
It's a great cause. Rob It always good to have
a chat with you. Go well and we'll catch up
and soon.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Well, thank you so much, Tyler. Catch up mate, Yeah,
see you mate.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
That is Robert Dunn, Country manager for November Great cause
promoting men's health mentally and physically, and of course November
we want to promote mental health across the board, females included.
So it's been a great discussion and I mentioned before,
Look have you been listening and you're feeling some of
those mental health problems come to the four. There is
(09:32):
absolutely support out there for you. So we're to turn
for help. The best first point of contact is to
visit your GP. They can help assess what further support
might be needed. There is some helplines available, of course,
if you or someone you care about our immediate physical
danger to themselves or others. Obviously one one one is
the call. But If you need to talk, you can
free call or text one seven three seven. Lifeline is
(09:54):
eight hundred and five four three three five four, The
Crisis Helpline is five eight eight to eight eight six
five and youth Line is eight one hundred and three
seven six six double three. If you are going through
some challenges at the moment, there's absolutely help out there
for you, and opening up and talking about it and
(10:15):
reaching out for that is incredibly valuable at Saves Lives
in Fact.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
For more from News Talk sed B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from news Talk zed Be
follow this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
We've been having a discussion about mental health and what
worked for you when you face the mental health challenges.
It is, of course November this month. It's an amazing
cause and charity. It raises a lot of money for
men's health, both mental and physical, and it's always a
lot of fun for the people involved as well. Raises
many many dollars and so someone who tacks through just
(00:39):
while we're having that conversation, as Robert Dunn, here's the
country manager for November in New Zealand, and he's on
the line now. Robert, very good to chat with you.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yeah, thanks for having me on Tyler or responding an here.
I hope your mustache is coming along. After a few
days of November so far.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
It's looking pretty good. I've got to say. I think Andrew,
my producer, would agree. There's a bit of bed going
along with it as well, but I'll shave off that
reft of the arrest of the bed and play my
partner mates. So it's a fantastic charity and it is worldwide.
How did it start here in New Zellan Robert, Yeah, you're.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Right, it's sort of. It's started unfortunately in Fitzroy, Australia,
but New Zealand was the second country to adopt it.
And basically, you know, if you look back twenty years ago,
there was nothing formalized for men. There was a lot
of charities for females and for kids and for famine,
and we did jump rote for hard and we did
all these sorts of things, but there was actually nothing
that was gender, nothing that looked out for men. And
(01:32):
the boys who started it, some hard case Australian guys
who are good friends, you know, looked around and saw that,
you know, prostate cancer was as big a threat to
a male as breast cancer is to a female. And
with that information they went to the Prospect Cancer Foundation
Australia and said, you know, we think, not only is
this a great you know, male fashion accessory, but it
could be a great charitable tool and a great conversation starter.
(01:54):
And then their wisdom that actually said thanks, but no thanks,
you guys are a bit weird and we don't want
to we don't want to align with you. But the
boys did it anyway and raised fifty thousand dollars that month,
went back and to aid that money, and they were like,
maybe you aren't so weird, maybe you're onto something. And
if we fast forward today, he Zellan jumped on board
second with an official November charity and campaign and now
(02:16):
it exists, as you said, Tyler, all around the world
and it's the largest funder of men's health initiatives outside
of government, which is pretty cool. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Absolutely. I mean, the old old mustache can be pretty
punishing for the other halves and men's life for that month,
but obviously the fun of it and that cheekiness of it,
The beauty with this of this campaign, Robert, is that
it opens up those conversations right for fellers.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Yeah, I think so, Tyler, Like you've had some fantastic
callers on this afternoon, and you know, the rarely is
there is no silver bullet. But one thing that we've
really realized works for men is that, you know, fun
is medicine. You know, like four men. Sometimes those early
conversations they do need to be informal, they do need
to be hard case, they do need to be around
mustache growth or the lack of or whatever it may be,
(03:03):
because that's how guys like to often start their interactions.
But you know, now that we've matured a little bit
over time, there's conversations turn to mentalth, conversations challenges that
we have in life, And like so many of your
callers have said, you know, reaching out, being vulnerable, asking
for help, you know, sharing some of the challenges in
life absolutely does work. And I really enjoyed one of
(03:24):
your previous callers that had on a really strong point
that we're actually getting a little bit better and asking
for help and talking and acknowledging the issue when I
first started movie them, but we couldn't even have a
conversation about mental health. But we are getting better. So
I always like to highlight that because we one hundred
percent are going in the right direction, there's just a
little bit more work to do. One thing that me
(03:45):
and in particular can do a little bit better is listen.
We love to jump in there with our sort of
number eight wire attitude and try and problem solve straight away.
If someone is brave enough to share a challenge with you,
it's important to validate that, realize that for them at
that point in time, it's something really significant, and it's
really hard for them to discuss that with you, so
(04:06):
validate it. You know, certainly, don't take that's nothing, and
you know, try and jump in there and say I
did this, Like actually just giving someone space to speak
for two or three minutes, that in itself is a
fantastic health tool and it's one that men aren't that
good at. And so that that whole listening thing, creating
a bit of space and time for someone to share
(04:26):
is actually a skill and one that we can really
improve that.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
There's some great resources on the website if anyone wants
to go check it out. I urged them to do
that at November dot com. And obviously you can donate
to the various people taking part. But the five things
men should know and do when it comes to their health,
Robert I love. It's nice and simple and you can
find it on the website. But a couple of things there.
Spend time with people who make you feel good. Talk
more that know the numbers, which is a great one,
(04:53):
know thy nuts simple, that's a fantastic one. That's a
big one.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
And move more.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Yeah yeah, and that exercise as well. But you know,
going back to those first two, spend time with people
who make you feel good and talk more clearly in
New Zealand. That has been something that US Fellers have
struggled with for for a long time. Do you think
it is it is improving on the whole.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
No, to be honest, like I think it's something that
we used to be probably a little bit better at,
and for a number of reasons, we're not as good
as we used to be. And it's it's amazing. Like
I always say, when it comes to men's health, you know,
it's our job. The services and some of the things
you've spoken about today are really important, but it's our
job in November and really as kiwis to take pressure
(05:37):
off the services to give me in good information to
help themselves and others. And like spending time with people
who make you feel good and top up your bucket
is really really important. And quite often I go into
different you know, I suppose high pressure and busy environments
and talk to people about that. And time is the
most valuable commodity. And we talk a lot these days
about being too busy to do things, but it's I
(05:58):
challenge people on that. And if you're not in any
given week or any given months doing something that tops
up your bucket and spending time with people that make
you feel good, then you're getting it wrong, you know.
And if you're spending time people who take out of
your bucket or you don't feel good about yourself and
that person. You know, we know when we're at our best,
and we should try really hard to create that environment
(06:19):
in that situation as much as we possibly can. And
if we go you know, months or even longer without
doing that, then of course we're going to be in
a bad place, you know. And connection as well. Like
you say, mate, it's just it's just so important. And
I really worry in that space that you know, we're
going to get twenty years down the line and we're
going to have to go to university to learn how
to interact with people. That's a that hyperbolic, but you know,
(06:40):
for some of our younger generation, you know, they are
getting brought up in an environment where you don't take cue.
You you know, you don't have to interact with people
too much if you don't want to. And I think
that's a real challenge for us.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Yeah, absolutely, and we can start to see that coming
to the fore now. But as you said, Robert, it
seems like it's a continuous you know, a work in progress,
and there's always you know, things that we can do
in New Zealand. Then as fellas to keep the conversation
open and alive and keep pushing forward.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Ay, oh totally mate. And as I sort of said previously,
like we are getting a lot of things right. You know,
there are places that I'm asked to come into now
that I never used to get invited into before, Like
there are so many workplaces now. They're trying to be
proactive in this space. And genuinely when I go out
and about, people want to help, like they absolutely do.
Like if you ask someone, you know, if you'll make
(07:29):
the struggling a level of what would you help them?
Everyone puts their hand up. Just a little different sometimes
is like have you told them that? Like do they
know that you know? And that's probably the bit we've
got to work on a little bit. But we are
absolutely going in the right direction. There's some fantastic work
that's going on that perhaps doesn't get held up in lights.
It's all the bad stuff that gets held up in lights.
But but quing men are not too bad. We we
(07:51):
just need a bit more encouragement and we just need
to give them really really good information so they can
help themselves and others.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Yeah, brilliant too. I have a chat with you, Robert
and promote this great a cause and campaign. How can
people support Movember if they're listening right.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Now, you totally mate. Just if you're growing or moving
or hosting or participating in November, thank you so much.
You just go to the website sign up, if you
know someone who's doing it, donate to the cause, like
it doesn't matter. It's five bucks, ten bucks, twenty bucks,
it all matters. That's the success of November as it's
just a heaps of people doing a little bit, which
is fantastic. And it's the same in mental health. Just
(08:26):
think of the one or two people who mean a
lot to you and just make sure that they understand
you've got their back and vice versa. And if we
do that on math, then we actually do move the dial,
which is really cool. And for all the ladies who
are listening, you know, no matter what it looks like,
just telling me looks handsome this month, you know, nicely
said Robert.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
And I've got to give a shout out to our
mates at the Alternative Commentary Collector. Absolutely and I've got
no sleep tool hole in the one campaign going on
at the moment, so that could take a long time, Robit.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
They could tell golfers bad golfers a very long time.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
They need all to help. They can get absolutely to
go check that out November dot com and give generously.
It's a great cause. Rob It always good to have
a chat with you. Go well and we'll catch up
and soon.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Well, thank you so much, Tyler. Catch up mate, Yeah,
see you mate.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
That is Robert Dunn, Country manager for November Great cause
promoting men's health mentally and physically, and of course November
we want to promote mental health across the board, females included.
So it's been a great discussion and I mentioned before,
Look have you been listening and you're feeling some of
those mental health problems come to the four. There is
(09:32):
absolutely support out there for you. So we're to turn
for help. The best first point of contact is to
visit your GP. They can help assess what further support
might be needed. There is some helplines available, of course,
if you or someone you care about our immediate physical
danger to themselves or others. Obviously one one one is
the call. But If you need to talk, you can
free call or text one seven three seven. Lifeline is
(09:54):
eight hundred and five four three three five four, The
Crisis Helpline is five eight eight to eight eight six
five and youth Line is eight one hundred and three
seven six six double three. If you are going through
some challenges at the moment, there's absolutely help out there
for you, and opening up and talking about it and
(10:15):
reaching out for that is incredibly valuable at Saves Lives
in Fact.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
For more from News Talk sed B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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