“He will speak about his mental health journey and the strategies he has developed to help with mental and physical fitness on the farm,” Wilson said.
“Kane is well known for his open and very frank discussion around the challenges many farmers face and is hellbent on making a difference. His talks are as confronting as they are entertaining.”
The Rural Wellbeing Hub will feature the Kahungunu Executive team, the bowel screening outreach team, Rural Women New Zealand – ConnectHER, Craig Wiggins’ health check site, Rural Support Trust and free hearing advice.
“This collective approach ensures farmers can access practical, relevant support in one location.”
Wiggins – Wiggy to most – will bring with him a nurse who will do general health checks.
“We regularly find rural people who haven’t had a health check for over 10 years,” Wiggins said.
“We want to make sure people take the right steps [to health]. We all know someone who has died young from something treatable and preventable.”
The Carr Family Foundation health and wellness checks have featured at the expo before and Wiggins will also talk about his Lean on a Gate, Talk to a Mate initiative.
Wiggins has teamed up with charitable organisation Mates in Construction to put together this mental health training programme, designed to help rural service industries and communities.
“Vets, stock agents and agronomists get faced with some tough conversations that they just aren’t trained for, and we want to help with that,” he said.
His mantra is simple: “Strong people make strong communities, and strong communities make strong people.”
The bowel screening outreach team will be leaving nothing to chance. There will be a big walk-through, blow-up bowel complete with educational fact sheets and experts on-hand to answer questions.
Kaitakawaenga Sally Maoate said the expo would be a great opportunity to educate farmers and highlight the importance of taking part in New Zealand’s free bowel screening programme.
“Bowel cancer is the third-highest cancer type in New Zealand, which has one of the highest bowel cancer rates globally. We want to share the lifesaving message so we can improve participation rates and help save precious lives,” she said.
“Our participation rates are not great. Many are put off participating in the screening programme because they feel well. Unfortunately, by the time symptoms are noticeable, the disease may be quite advanced. Early detection often means a better outcome.”
Kahungunu Executive is a Wairoa health provider working in the community and Māori ora space with a focus on increasing access to health in rural areas, while supporting and delivering mental health initiatives.
Executive clinical lead Julie Duffell said the expo was a chance to promote Kahungunu Executive’s services and engage with the wider community.
