The launch of the Centre for Men's Health New Zealand came through a one-day symposium, titled ''Men's Health: Meeting the Challenges'', held at the university's School of Physiotherapy.
Prof Baxter, also a former school dean, said the centre was not a ''bunch of nerd scientists'' who would sit in an academic ivory tower and ''provide all the answers''.
This was a genuine effort to bring together interested people and work with ''stakeholder groups and other players to produce change''.
The aim was to not only undertake more men's health research, but also promote fresh thinking and approaches and lobby for a national men's health policy to be developed.
One study showed that for every dollar devoted specifically to women's health in one major health research fund, 4c was earmarked specifically for men's health.
Young New Zealand men, and particularly Maori, experienced high rates of suicide, and injury from other causes.
Obesity also posed big health challenges for many older men.
More physical activity was needed, but some attitudes also had to change.
Some people suggested that suicide and other men's health issues simply reflected the way men were, and little could be done. In an interview, Prof Baxter disagreed, and said more effective approaches could be developed, including reaching out to men through some of their recreational or employment networks.
