Friday, 15 November, 2013 - 07:20

Rob Cope, author of the recently released book, ‘Men Wanted For Hazardous Journey’, Hailed by Mike King as "the best exploration of Kiwi manhood I have ever read" is currently two weeks and 1500 km into his own hazardous journey hitchhiking around NZ with a full sized fridge/freezer filled with his books and a message to all Kiwi men. "Anger, depression, anxiety, broken marriages and strained relationships with fathers we barely know… We were never taught how to be men, or what a real man even looks like. It’s time to start talking about this stuff because the way we are currently doing this manhood thing just isn’t working" says Rob.

So why the fridge? "It’s a bit of comic relief really. The book is pretty hard hitting and the fridge adds a bit of a balance, besides it’s a good talking point. It could also be seen as a statement of mental health, as in, if you’re just sitting on the couch at home and you’re not hitchhiking around the country with a fridge then you may very well have serious mental health issues" laughs Rob.

"I want my sons growing up with a better model of manhood than I was handed."

Rob may not have all the answers but believes that his book, a compelling and challenging look into Kiwi "man" culture, is asking the right questions.

You can follow Rob’s progress around the country via his daily updates on the Project Wildman Facebook page www.facebook.com/projectwildman. His book is available to buy on www.projectwildman.co.nz.

Rob, having already hitched down the west coast then across to Bluff is currently in Dunedin and will be heading up the east coast of the South Island until 20th November, and then the North Island for 4 weeks, so if you see him standing on the side of the road hitching a ride with his fridge stop and say hello or even better give him a lift.