And while we did talk to an All Black – Karl Tu’inukuafe, one of the largest players in the game at nearly 140kg – he wasn’t a stereotypical muddied oaf. Karl’s more of a great bear hug of decency and vulnerability, who runs old fashioned values alongside sophisticated emotional intelligence and an ancient Toyota.
Men like Tu’inukuafe showed how traditions associated with masculinity aren’t all bad. Māori leaders, such as Professor Pou Temara, of the Tūhoe iwi (people), a modern day tohunga – or guardian of Māori tradition and custom – have long been concerned with Māori losing connections to the culture. He says an absence of traditional culture and a breakdown of hapū (tribal) connection has helped fuel issues of toxic masculinity.
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January 21, 2021
John Daniell, left, and Glenn McConnell host Stuff s new podcast about modern masculinity, He ll Be Right. (Photo: Lawrence Smith)
Review: He’ll Be Right deftly challenges what it means to be a modern man
Review
Tackling topics such as rugby and body image, Stuff’s latest podcast shines a much-needed light on Aotearoa’s complex relationship with masculinity, writes Trevor McKewen, author of the book Real Men Wear Black.
I wasn’t sure what to think when two episodes of the new local podcast He’ll Be Right landed in my inbox. My daughter sent them to me and asked me to listen and share my views.