Gisborne builders now certified hunks for charity

Some of the Gisborne builders behind a new charity calendar. Proceeds from sales of the calendar will go to men’s mental health charity Hear4U. Back, from left, Nick Farrelly (NZCB chairman), Clay Parker, Willy Hallgarth, Dave Wallace, Bruce Knight, Brendan Fry (NZCB Gisborne president) and Brad Mitchell (NZCB territory manager). Front: Phill Claffey, Digby Toothill and Sam Gavin. Picture by Liam Clayton

Gisborne builders have downed tools and trousers, in a cheeky effort to raise awareness for men’s mental health.

New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Gisborne Region officially launched its inaugural 2024 Charity Calendar, “New Zealand Certified Hunks”, at a special event attended by 300 people at the Lawson Field Theatre, last Thursday.

The project is the brainchild of Gisborne builder Brendan Fry.

“The initiative around the calendar was to help raise awareness for men’s mental health and suicide awareness in our construction industry,” he told the Gisborne Herald.

“Within this sector the pressures can be huge not only on builders but on subcontractors like electricians, plumbers and painters. We needed to find a way to bring attention to how we can break the stigma for men to say it’s OK to be not OK and speak up.

“The calendar was a great avenue for our members to step out of their comfort zones in front of a camera and help raise much-needed funds for a great local charity, Hear4U, who help our Gisborne men, enabling them to speak up and finding pathways to assist them.

“This is a first for NZCB nationally and Gisborne region is proud to be able to do this.

The aim is to raise $20,000, selling 1000 calendars for $20 each.

Builders across the Gisborne region are featured throughout the calendar in various photo shoots.

Production costs were  covered by local sponsors, so all proceeds from sales of the calendar will go to Hear4U.

Hear4U is a charitable trust advocating for men’s mental health, wellbeing and suicide prevention.

The calendar is available from Mitre10 Gisborne.