Summary:

Dan is a part of many communities through not only his job but also his passions. Dan is apart part of Microsoft New Zealand, holds multiple roles across many advisory and iwi boards in Tamaki Makaurau and New Zealand, he play soccer for Hibiscus Coast, is a Karate Sensei and is connected in many more ways to his culture and the community that sits within his Marae in South Taranaki. 

Some of the more recent communities that Dan has been a part of is due to their recent experiences with Joshie’s cancer journey. 

The first community that they have connected to is one that they have unintentionally created, a Facebook page called He hikoi he aroha started out as a tool to share and reflect on what they as a whānau were going through, it has now blossomed into a beautiful and supportive community. On this platform they share updates about Joshie and how his journey is going with his cancer treatments, it’s real, raw and the Walker whānau are breaking down barriers and stigma around talking about cancer without even knowing it. For many talking about cancer and the variety of challenges that come with it may seem daunting, and it still is for the Walker Whānau, but they have now been able to use this platform to connect to others, whether that be through support or people going through similar struggles, ultimately it is providing a safe and supportive place for the whānau and their reflections to connect to a wider support network and community. 

Within the Cancer realm there are organisations that help families during the battle of cancer, Dan mentioned the immense support that Ronald McDonald House, Child Cancer Foundation and Starship have provided the family with. What else these organisations do is connect families together, some may not want to and that is fine, but for those like Dan that seek that ability to talk to others going through similar struggles, he is hugely grateful to have communities like that to share their stories and troubles with. 

Another key community that Dan has been a part of is Essentially Men, a group that together is real and raw about how they are doing holistically. This is a space and experience that Dan is grateful for, he was able to connect with other guys that are all on their own individual journey about feelings, mental health and overall holistic wellness. Which is something that Dan believes more men need to express and talk about in order to help men’s mental health move forward in a positive direction. It doesn’t have to be on a deep level but the importance of men being real and checking in on how each other are going is a key takeaway from this interview.