Lockdown Gaming Comp Provides Space For Men's Wellbeing

Over the COVID-19 lockdown period HEART created ‘Happenings with HEART’- a weekly schedule that offered a variety of online activities and spaces.

Seeing a need for a mens space HEART initiated the Men’s Koru Group. This was a weekly wellbeing space for men, led by Change Agent Tyrone Tangata-Makiri of TYN2. Being a new space combined with the stigma felt by men to enter these spaces the group struggled to gain traction. After a few weeks of holding the space and some reflection, Tyrone suggested a new approach to connect with men.

Combining his love for gaming and connecting with others Tyrone created the online Tāmaki NBA2k20 Competition event. NBA2K20 is a basketball simulation video game, based on the National Basketball Association (NBA). The premise was simply to gather some local men over lockdown to play in a gaming competition and to talk about stuff. The event gathered 13 men of all ages who played over three weeks in eight teams. Through Tyrone’s rugby league connections the majority of the group came through here as well as some youth from Tāmaki College.

Gamers connected over the competition with new and familiar people, the conversation was open and continued after game time in a messenger chat. Being a new initiative for HEART and for Tyrone, there were some teething issues such as access to some gaming equipment and managing the gamers skill levels, however, overall the event was a positive and fun experience that introduced some local men to The HEART Movement and produced two worthy winners who took away PAK’n’SAVE vouchers. Congrats Niko from GI and Lepa from Panmure!

Tyrone says getting men to spaces to talk can be challenging and that the kōrero must go to their spaces rather than vice versa as seen in the successful ‘She Is Not Your Rehab’ campaign, an anti-violence movement that was born in a barbershop. The Tāmaki NBA2k20 competition allowed a safe and familiar space for Tāmaki men to connect, however, “there is a lot more work to be done” says Tyrone. “The reluctance to talk about feelings is associated with stigma (that) comes from conditioning and cultural norms that are still in place.” The HEART Movement acknowledges this point and is open to hosting more initiatives like this one to support our local tāne.

Ngā mihi to all the men who played and chatted over layups and rebounds. We think you would agree MVP goes to Change Agent Tyrone this time around.