Whanau continues to take first place   28 Oct 2014

Wairua Body Coaching Systems

MEDIA RELEASE

28th October 2014.

Whanau continues to take first place.

Wairua Body Coaching Systems, based in Stoke, are unwilling to let their series of firsts come to an end.

Recently successful in forming the first Obstacle Racing Club in the top of the South Island (Wairua Mud Rookies), they have also worked alongside Sport Tasman to develop Nelson’s first Obstacle Race, “The Wairua Warrior”. The husband and wife team behind WBCS, Greg and Donna Witika, have now joined forces with Awhina Kihi in an aim to create the region’s first Maori and Pacific holistic health and well being programme utilising traditional movement and performing arts to inspire and motivate people to embrace a more active and healthy lifestyle.

The concept for the initiative, identified by Mrs Kihi, co-tutor and performer with Te Whatukura Kapahaka club, stemmed from her desire and commitment to counter her culture and communities negative high statistics in relation to drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and obesity, she says “With over twenty years involvement with Kapahaka I have learnt it is the perfect vehicle for Maori and Pacific cultures to become involved in an active and healthy lifestyle”.

Mr Witika is currently coaching the Te Whatukura Kapahaka club to become “Haka fit” in their bid to become the best of the best at the Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival. Mr Witika says, there is more to becoming Haka fit than physical strength and stamina, “We’re coaching the performers to utilise natural movement, but we’re also talking about nutrition and belief in oneself, so that on the day the group can step out with confidence knowing they are going to give the very best they can.”

Mrs Kihi’s vision for a community out reach programme is taking shape, with the successful completion of the first stage of a funding application with Te Putahitanga, an organisation that invests in whanau, entrepreneurs, non-profits and businesses who harness the spirit of Maui Tikitiki-a-Taranga and dare to create change.

If final funding is granted Mrs Kihi and Mr and Mrs Witika plan to develop a programme where they provide training and employment opportunities for coaches to visit the wider community as positive role models who champion a healthy and active lifestyle within schools, the work place and community groups.

Wairua Body Coaching Systems is holding an open day on Saturday 1st November at Unit B, 12 Elms Street, Stoke where guests can discover more about body coaching, obstacle racing and their work with the Te Whatukura Kapahaka club.

Ends.


Add a comment

News

Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students

29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more

New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process

7 Mar 2020 News By Rt HON WINSTON PETERS
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more

Business

NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19

17 Mar 2020 Business News By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more

NZ Government announces aviation relief package

19 Mar 2020 Business News By Hon Phil Twyford
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more

Living

Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London

6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall. It was the first... more

Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate

12 Jan 2022 Arts By Charlotte Everett
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...  New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more

Property

Fairer rules for tenants and landlords

17 Nov 2019 Property By Minister Kris Faafoi
17 NOVEMBER 2019 The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more

New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax

17 Apr 2019 Property By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more

Migration

Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued

19 Nov 2019 Migration By Hon Iain Lees-Galloway
19 NOVEMBER 2019 We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more

Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location

18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018 HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more

Travel

Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more

New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas more

Sport

The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners

27 Oct 2019 Cricket By Charlotte Everett
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more

PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final

26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more

Columns

Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade

11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade First published on Werewolf The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more

Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome

10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell   Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more

Kiwi Success

Congratulations to Loder Cup winner

26 Sep 2018 People By Hon Eugenie Sage
25 SEPTEMBER 2018 The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more

Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO

16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO HON JENNY SALESA Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more

Recruitment

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

14 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

22 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more