It's Good to Yarn. The Yarns Men hosts a Christchurch based men only monthly meetup.

This is an opportunity for men from all walks of life to hear an inspirational guest speaker and have a yarn over some food.

Our September speaker is Tristan Phipps. Tristan grew up in a super strict religious group known as the church with no name or more recently the 2x2's. He was told anyone outside the group was going to hell. Leaving meant changing his direction in life, effectively starting again and altering relationships with family & friends.

Tristan shares what it was like growing up inside that bubble and what it took to break free. These days, he’s helping others do the same, speaking up and shining a light on stuff that’s been kept quiet for way too long.
Tickets are $22.50 to cover the cost of chicken wings, chips and beer (low, non-alc, cider or 2 soft drinks if preferred).

What to expect with The Yarns Men event:

To run for approximately 1.5 hours
Food from the Food Dude (who runs the food truck at Two Thumb Manchester Street)
Hear Tristan's story
Be open to having a yarn with new people
The following questions will be posed to the group, and breakout into pairs to discuss:

What have you struggled with in the last week?
What’s something you want to work on next week?
What are you proud of?
What gives you hope?

The Way of The Yarns Men

Be a Good Bugger – Back your fellow Yarns Man, listen without judgment, treat everyone with respect.
Real Talk, No Bull – Honesty takes guts, and a good yarn goes both ways. Share your yarn and allow others to share theirs.
Give a Bit, Get a Bit – Share your wins, your struggles, and your time. You get back what you put in.
It Takes Guts to Be Real – Opening up isn’t weak, it’s brave. Dropping the mask makes for real connection.
Stay Curious, Keep an Open Mind – Every fella’s got a story. Ask questions, listen in, and share from your own experience.

Disclaimer: The Yarns Men aren't therapists. We're men who care. Our role is to create space for genuine conversations and social connections. Think of our yarns as tips and advice from a mate, a place to explore new ways of engaging in conversations and building social connections. We do not provide clinical guidance. If you need help finding support, reach out to Matthew.