Men's health in New Zealand is a significant equity issue — men die younger than women, are less likely to seek help, and have higher rates of suicide, heart disease, and cancer mortality. Men's health grants fund cancer screening, mental health, suicide prevention, alcohol and drug services, and lifestyle programmes. This guide covers the key funding sources.
Health system men's health:
- Primary health: GP access and chronic disease management for men
- Cancer screening: Prostate, bowel, and skin cancer screening
- Mental health: Men's mental health services
- Alcohol and drug: AOD treatment including male-dominated services
Cancer Society NZ funds men's cancer:
- Prostate cancer support: Groups and information
- Testicular cancer: Awareness and support
- Melanoma: Skin cancer prevention
- Bowel cancer: Screening awareness
Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ:
- Research funding
- Community support groups
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) awareness
- Patient navigation
Mental health funding for men:
- Mental Health Foundation NZ: Mental wellbeing including male-specific resources
- Lifeline NZ, Samaritans: Crisis support used significantly by men
- Te Pou: Workforce for male-appropriate mental health services
- Community mental health: DHB mental health services
Men are three times more likely to die by suicide in NZ:
- Every Life Matters: Suicide prevention investment
- Mental Health Foundation: Suicide prevention programmes
- Rural mental health: Farmer mental health — men in rural communities
- Farmstrong: Farming men's wellbeing
Gaming trusts fund men's health:
- Four Winds Foundation: Community health programmes
- Grassroots Trust: Community health and wellbeing
- Pub Charity: Community health
- Lion Foundation: Community health programmes
Men's health gaming trust applications:
- Men's health awareness events
- Prostate cancer screening awareness
- Men's mental health groups
- Suicide prevention community programmes
Men's health equity:
- Te Puni Kōkiri: Māori men's health
- Ministry for Pacific Peoples: Pacific men's wellbeing
- Kia Ora Hauora: Māori and Pacific health workforce
- Tāne Ora (Men's Health): Māori men's wellbeing programmes
Māori men have significantly shorter life expectancy — targeted investment is available.
AOD services with male focus:
- Alcohol and Drug services: DHB-funded treatment
- Te Ara Tuatahi: Auckland alcohol and drug service
- Salvation Army: Addiction services for men
- Gambling harm: Gaming trust funding for harm minimisation
Paternal health:
- Plunket: Fathers in early parenting
- Men's health in family context: GP and well child services
- Family violence: Men's behaviour change programmes
Men's physical health:
- Sport NZ: Physical activity for men
- Green Prescription: Physical activity referral
- Men's shed: Physical activity and community for older men
- Men's Shed Association NZ: Community and purpose for older men
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Male engagement: How the programme reaches men who don't usually seek help
- Population served: Men by age, ethnicity, and health condition
- Cultural competency: Culturally appropriate for Māori and Pacific men
- Mental health: Addressing male-specific barriers to help-seeking
- Suicide prevention: Evidence-based approaches for at-risk men
- Cancer: Screening and early detection outcomes
- Community connection: Men's shed, sport, and peer support as engagement vehicle
Tahua's grants management platform helps men's health organisations manage grant applications across Te Whatu Ora, Cancer Society NZ, gaming trusts, and community funders, tracking health outcomes, mental health, and community engagement for men.