Men's Muster 2024

Former All Black

Kees Meews - Speaker

We are delighted to welcome back Kees, who will be back for his 3rd Muster and has become an ambassador for the event. "I have seen the positive effect of bringing guys together, challenging them to be a bit better and share a bit more, through rugby, Match Fit and here at the Muster, and how those benefits carry on long after the game, show or event". He is proud to be an active part of the Mens’ Muster family with his natural charm and honesty providing a great platform for fun, laughter and some interesting discussions.

Kees Meeuws had the perfect build for a prop, with the mobility of a loose forward. Kees played 42 tests for the All Blacks between 1998 and 2004, with a remarkable knack for scoring tries – a rarity for a prop – scoring 10 test tries in total. Despite playing rugby like a rampaging bull in a china shop, Kees is certainly anything but a stereotypical rugby player off the field. A Renaissance man, Kees is a larger-than-life flamboyant character with diverse interests. He is an artist, author, fisherman/diver, hunter, and cook.

One of seven siblings, Kees is very proud of his Māori Dutch heritage and now has six children of his own. The transplanted Aucklander is now very much a Dunedin and Otago man through and through carving out the next phase of his life. Happy to come along to share some of the Predators he has Conquered along the way, we can’t wait to see him again this year!

Comedian

Willy de Wit - Speaker

Born William McGechie, Willy soon found his niche in comedy and found a new career (and new name). Pioneering NZ’s stand-up comedy scene in the 1980s, Willy moved into TV, working with giants like Billy T James and McPhail & Gadsby. He was part of the iconic and hugely successful TV group Funny Business, which led de Wit into a career in radio. Willy spent 11 years as the morning host of Radio Hauraki and was also part of the Kiwi supergroup The Wide Lapels. Tragically, in 2016 Willy suffered a life-threatening stroke which still impacts him today.

Health Coach

Kent Johns - Keynote Speaker and MC

Kent is a certified Health and Mental Well-Being Coach and Nutritional Counsellor. He established Kent Johns Health to assist businesses in helping their people better look after themselves and thrive in life. He is the host of Take It From Us, a radio program that deals with issues such as poor mental well-being, addiction, and trauma, and is also a regular health contributor on Newstalk ZB.

To us at the Muster, Kent Johns is one of a kind. He has been keeping the momentum of our event going with his impeccable MCing skills, learned through his broadcasting career. Kent’s health presentations are laced with honest perspective and plenty of humour. He spoke at both of the previous Men’s Musters, and we can’t wait to see him again this June!

Adventure Guide

Courtney Quintrell

Throughout my life I have always enjoyed the peaceful zen of focusing my mind while participating in various adventure sports. Motorbikes, paragliding, rafting, and kayaking are forms of meditation for me. Focusing on every movement while Mother Nature is speeding toward you doesn't allow you to think about your work, ex, or sick family member. It's a complete escape for the mind, a workout for the body, and the soul always feels amazing after a good adventure.

Although I recommend getting outside, sometimes we need simple tools to calm our minds that don't require leaving the house. Conscious breathing and meditation are powerful tools everyone can learn, which allow us to experience more joy in life because they intentionally focus our thoughts and emotions towards what we want to experience.

Through my Brave Soul workshops and multiday adventure retreats, I teach these and other tools that allow my clients to release fear, embrace life and start living from the brave soul inside of them.

Rugby Player

Sir Wayne Shelford - Keynote Speaker

A true sporting rangatira, Wayne 'Buck' Shelford is one of the most legendary All Blacks captains and rugby coaches our country has ever produced. Passionate about encouraging Kiwi men to take better care of their health, Buck himself beat cancer 14 years ago. In recent years, Wayne 'Buck' Shelford has become as passionate about men's health as he was about belting out a pre-match haka. In 2012, he published "Buck Up", a book that positively alters awareness of and approaches to men's health for everyday males and practitioners.

Farm4Life

Tangaroa Walker - Keynote Speaker

Struggle Gives You Meaning

You can see him on his Facebook Page, Farm4Life, a Southland share-milker and social media sensation, leading the good life with his whanau and talking about his passion—dairy farming. Tangaroa Walker (Ranginui/Pukenga) and his trailblazing business won the 2021 Te Kupeka Umaka Maori ki Araiteuru (KUMA) Māori Business Award and the Southland Environmental Innovations award.

Logan Lore

Ben Logan - Keynote Speaker

As an elite athlete and health, performance and survival specialist, Ben's ultimate passion is reconnecting men with their purpose and providing them with the skillsets needed to thrive in this world, allowing them to transfer those benefits to their business, personal and family life.

When he's not in the backcountry mountains of Wanaka training with his Alaskan Malamute, Maska, you can usually find him testing new research on human optimisation, survival training and exploring the beautiful region of Wanaka that he calls home with his family. He has worked and trained with men from all walks of life, from fathers and sons to corporates, some of the world's best athletes and military personnel.

Urologist

Amir Zarrabi - Keynote Speaker

Amir is an Associate Professor of Urology and is the only Urologist in New Zealand with a PhD in Male Fertility & Microsurgery. To offer his patients care of the highest standards, he has received training at world-renowned institutions in the USA and Europe, including Harvard Medical School, the Cleveland Clinic, Cornell University Hospital in New York and the Asklepios Hospital in Germany.

Apart from his position as TD Scott Chair of Urology at the University of Otago, he has been in full-time practice as a consultant Urologist in Dunedin since 2009 and manages the full spectrum of Urological conditions. He is a member of both the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand and the Fertility Society of Australia & New Zealand.

Nutritionist

Conrad Goodhew - Keynote Speaker

Back by popular demand! We welcome Conrad to return and share some more of his wisdom with us. Since the age of 4, he has been playing sports. Participating in everything from rugby and cricket to squash and golf – all at provincial and international representative levels. He also loves the outdoors, where he surfs and dives (among everything else).

He can understand the pressures that sportsmen and women go through, both physiological and psychological. He works with the Crusaders, weekend warriors and the general public that are trying to be the best version of themselves. His drive is to start changing how the health and fitness industry sees clients as more than just a 'quick fix' for marketing and driving sustainable change to inspire generations to follow.

Rugby Player

Callum Bruce - Keynote Speaker

Callum Bruce represented the Māori All Blacks and formerly played for Super Rugby teams Highlanders and Chiefs, usually at second five-eighth. Continuing his Rugby career in Japan, Callum decided that with a young family, it was time to come home.

He has also been an integral part of establishing the Men's Muster, working tirelessly with us and chairing the board of our newly formed charitable trust.

From achieving on the field, he has really helped us to achieve great things in Te Anau and has now started another adventure in life and will come and share more about that with you.

Lifestyle Medicine and Root cause analysis coach

Kim Knight - Keynote Speaker

Kim is a multi-award winning coach, including finalist for NEXT New Zealand Woman of the Year (2011) for ‘innovation and contribution in health’. After bringing herself back to health from 20 years of debilitating symptoms, including being housebound with chronic fatigue (CFS), fibromyalgia, clinical depression and anxiety, Kim now helps others create miracles in their health. Trained in a number of cutting-edge healthcare approaches, including her own signature ‘root cause analysis’, 9 pillars of health mastery and TKM lifestyle medicine, her passion is empowering people with the tools to take back control of their health and life.

Comedian

Shane Mulvey - MC

Here to host the Friday night entertainment, Shane came onto the queenstown comedy scene late last year and has been a favourite of crowds down there since. From Mexican jail cells to life as a new father Shane has a unique and often outrageous perspective on life that's not to be missed.

Winner of the 2020 Queenstown Raw Comedy Quest