NZ Men's Issues Summit II - Christchurch August 2005
Speaker & Programme Details
1. Men in Policy and Politics
John Tamihere 9.20 - 10.00am
Abstract: Menfolk must organise and join the long overdue conversation about what our roles and responsibilities are. It is important that Menfolk decide what changes in communities and society are going to be required in order to support the development of a 'MEN'S' strategy and agenda.
Speaker: Before entering Parliament, John was Chief Executive of Te Whänau o Waipareira Trust. He is a former chairman of the New Zealand Maori Rugby League Board. He also served as a solicitor for the Department of Maori Affairs in 1985 and 1986.
Following the 2002 election he was elevated to cabinet where he held the Land Information, Statistics, Small Business and Youth Affairs portfolios. He was also Associate Minister of Maori Affairs, and Commerce.
2. Men's Health
Bruce Mackie 10.00 - 10.40am
Speaker: Bruce Mackie is the Director of the Brain Training Institute Trust. He guided Lifeline from 1965 as CEO. Until recently, before he committed to The Brain Training, he was their Clinical Director.
Bruce is experienced in many counseling disciplines including NLP, Hypnotherapy and Suicidology. He has been training in Electroencephalographic Neurofeedback (EEGFB) for a number of years and is enthusiastic about its future as an addition to mainstream therapies.
Morning Tea 10.40 - 11.00am
3. Gender and Power - Myths and Misuses
Warwick Pudney 11.00 - 11.30am
Speaker : Warwick Pudney has 12 years experience as a teacher of children from 6-16yrs, and 20 years working in the counseling therapy field with couple men and adolescents largely around relationship, anger or behaviour issues. For the last 10 years he has traveled the length of NZ working with educators, caregivers, social services and community professionals in individual, workshop, seminar, and conference settings.
He is currently the National Director of the NZ Violence Prevention Society- a body registering professionals working in this area, and providing advice on violence prevention.
He was the founding C.E.O. of ManAlive, a Men's Counselling and Well-being Centre and N.Z.'s first social service for males which is now pioneering new ways of assisting men, youth and boys to alter behaviour and lifestyles. He is a senior lecturer in Violence and Trauma Studies at Auckland University of Technology.
His well-known book Volcano in My Tummy, written with Eliane Whitehouse, is about to be re-released in Australia.
4. Men in Research - What needs researching and how?
Stuart Birks 11.30 - 12.00pm
Abstract: There is a vast body of research on policy issues which affect men. Only a small proportion of this research includes a male perspective. This paper illustrates the problem and identifies possible solutions.
Speaker: Stuart Birks is the Director of the Centre for Public Policy Evaluation at Massey University and the Vice-President of the New Zealand Father and Child Society. He has been researching policy issues in relation to men and fathers for many years.
Through his Centre, he has published papers from three annual Social Policy Forums, addressing issues of fathers, families and family law. Other Centre publications have also considered these matters, as well as the policy-making process and the types of analysis used. He has also written on these matters for the New Zealand Law Journal and elsewhere.
Lunch provided 12.00 - 12.45pm
5a. Men and Work
Dr. Paul Callister 1.00 - 1.45pm
Abstract: New Zealand fathers are amongst those working the longest hours of paid work in industrialised countries. Yet, men increasingly want to be "good" fathers, contributing both "quality" and "quantity" time to their children. The paper will explore the "double burden" for New Zealand fathers and ways it might be reduced.
Speaker: Dr Paul Callister is a labour market economist with a long-term interest in the changing roles of fathers. Paul's recent research has focused on the changing distribution of paid and unpaid work at the level of both the individual and the household. This has included a focus on the polarisation of work across households; family-friendly' policies including parental leave; employment scheduling; home-based employment; as well as the links between changes in the labour market and changes in the form and function of households. Paul is a member of the national committee of the Father and Child Society.
5b. Two Home Families
Abstract: Parental separation is a time of great risk for New Zealand children and their relationship with their fathers. We need to remove the barriers in law, income, Child Support and attitudes that prevent fathers from becoming real dads who nurture and set limits. Too many children have to settle for dads as visitors or recreation providers at the weekend. Will the Care of Children Act 2005 assist fathering or will it be 'business as usual'?
Don Rowlands 1.00 - 1.45pm
Speaker: Don Rowlands is a shared parent of four children and has over a decade of experience as a parent educator, family counsellor with Home and Family Christchurch. He is also a Fathering advocate with the NZ Father and Child Society.
6a. Fathers and Fatherlessness
Rex McCann 1.45 - 2.25pm
Speaker: Rex McCann is well known and widely respected for his work in the area of men's awareness in New Zealand and Australia. He is the founder and facilitator of Essentially Men and has had twenty years active experience in men's groups. He regularly attends men's conferences in the U.S. and Australia, connecting with broader international influences.
He is author of Fatherless Sons - the stories of New Zealand men, which examines men's relationship with their fathers and the place of fathers in society. It has been published in Australia under the title "On Their Own - men growing up underfathered".
Rex is a self employed facilitator, researcher and author and has experienced many walks of life with men, including working with men in prisons for five years. In the past he has worked as a hunter, a political activist, a teacher in Rudolf Steiner education, and a director of street theatre. He is the founder of the NZ Men's Leadership Gathering and a co founder of the NZ Heart Politics Gathering. He speaks at conferences and workshops and conducts training for helping professionals on working with men and in schools and the wider community on issues to do with boys and men.
6b. The Good The Bad & The Ugly - The Care of Children Act
Dennis Valentine 1.45 - 2.25pm
Abstract: The Care of Children Act has been in effect for a month now - what are the early indicators? Will it be the panacea it has been proclaimed to be?
Speaker: Dennis has been involved in the Prison Education, Alcohol & Drug and Family Violence fields. With experienced gained as a Court Counsellor he has just completed a nine year tenure at the heart of the system as a Family Court Coordinator.
7a. Boys in Schools
Joseph Driessen 2.25 - 3.05pm
Abstract: Joseph will be speaking about boys education in New Zealand, and will summarise the latests trends and research.
Speaker: Joseph Driessen BSc TTC MEdAdmin is one of the leading Educators with regards to Boys' Education, in New Zealand. He is a frequent Speaker at National and International Teacher Conferences about Boys' Education, and conducts seminars and training on that topic. He completed his Masters of Educational Administration with a major research project into boys' educational achievement. He is a 1998 recipient of the Davies Trust Educational Research Grant, for Research into Boys' Education and later was awarded a Research Grant by the New Zealand Ministry of Education for similar research at Wanganui High.
7b. A Men's Centre for Male Wellbeing in Christchurch?
Donald Pettitt 2.25 - 3.05pm
Abstract: Donald will focus a discussion around the need and importance of a Men's Centre in Christchurch. He seeks to channel energy on local issues and generate possibilities for men's wellbeing in a Christchurch and a national context.
Speaker: Donald Pettitt is a social worker with the New Zealand Deaf Association in Christchurch. He has been instrumental in the formation of a Deaf Men's group and Deaf Men's programme in Christchurch. He is an executive member of Father and Child Trust and Menstrust (both Christchurch based) and is committed to bringing about positive change for men in the social services.
Afternoon tea 3.05 - 3.30pm
8. The Problems and the Possibilities of Advocating Men's Issues
Philip Chapman 3.30 - 4.00pm
Abstract: Phillip will be speaking about his frontline work in advocatiing for men, and the problems he finds working with families in a predominately female family-service environment. He is regularly silenced and marginalised by people who believe men are a threat rather than an asset.
The possibilities are endless - men's hearts are open and if service organisations learn to engage men in the community there will be increased opportunities for improving society.
Speaker: When Philip is not listening to Bob Dylan he works for Public Health Services of Nelson Marlborough District Health Board promoting men's health, and positive fathering. Philip also manages a centre which runs services including; "Men for Men" counselling and "Problems for Boys" life skills.
He has carried out three research projects on men's involvement with family services such as Anti-natal and Plunket, and is currently a consultant to Plunket on a new parenting program and engaged in a research project focussing on men's transition to fatherhood.
Philip is President of the NZ Father and Child Society and a sought after presentation speaker.