DAI'S NEW DIRECTION 'I'M LIVING IN THE MOMENT'

As he battles stage-four bowel cancer, the beloved Kiwi comedian opens up about how he and his family are coping

- Donna Brookbanks

He might be on his final round of chemotherapy before he takes five months off to spend time with his "thick as thieves" whānau, but Dai Henwood is still one of the busiest comedians in Aotearoa.

As well as currently starring on Taskmaster NZ and recent stints on stand-up stages around the country, the beloved entertainer has now taken on another gig - as an ambassador for the Cancer Society, a role that sits very close to his heart.

"It's been pretty cool for me," grins Dai, 45, speaking exclusively to Woman's Day. "I'm in that situation of being able to give back a little, which selfishly helps me - helping people is making me feel really good about things."

Having been diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2020, the Lego Masters NZ host is unfortunately all too familiar with the disease, especially now his cancer has progressed to stage four. "It's a diagnosis for the whole family," he says reflectively.

Dai adds that his wife of 17 years, art teacher Jo, 41, is an incredible support. "She's been an absolute rock for me at the coalface. Because we've been dealing with it for a while, we've found a rhythm to it - knowing when it gets a bit heavy or when we need some space or a date night. It's something you learn along the way because there's no path to follow. It's that thing about finding out what self-care means for each other."