I love it when a thread brings out all the well-adjusted socially functional kiwis.
Joining groups can be good, but you might end up having to try out a few. I feel its like dating apps; the risk of meeting someone you dislike and then running in to them all the time is higher in small towns. At least in a city you can have more social and hobby groups to bounce around. I gave up on a couple of local special interest groups because of a few spergy regulars.
Aside from more orchestrated opportunities to meet people I recommend just starting conversations. I know it sounds impossible but just a bit of light banter at the bar to see if anyone bites, or finding an excuse to ask a neighbor about some local happenings as an opener works. Then you get to say hello and talk next time you see them. And maybe they introduce you to someone else. IDK. I've never tried to make friends, it just happened organically.
I just did a mental tally and I've got one male friend from college, one who lives near by and we just started talking in the street a lot then progressed to hanging out. The rest are just randos I collected in pubs. That magical time of night in the hard-core boozers* where weirdos just start talking to anyone. Hang around enough and the other drunk weirdoes will accept you. Or fight you. Or both. Added bonus, they already know you're a pathetic alcoholic with no life so you don't have to put up a front.
I've never made any lasting male friends through work, oddly enough. Lots of near-friends (go to their wedding, help them move house etc) but no one I'd really go hang out with regularly.
Also, there are a couple of exes I stayed friends with, but I understand fucking a dude as a first step towards friendship might be a step too far for some. Much like Warhammer.
I think it depends what you want out of a friendship and where you are in your life. My best friend is almost twice my age. My other closest friends have very different lifestyles and interests to me.
On the other hand, Mrs Clovis makes friends through work, and they're all at much the same stage in life so can connect over shared experiences. Not sure if this is a male/female thing but I have a feeling female friend groups tend to be more homogenous.
*two of my local pubs are putting up posters for suicide prevention men's groups. That's the kind of place I drink in, the ones for emotionally crippled failures to drown their sorrows. But, if you can get past the human husks you meet some really interesting people.