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Wāhine Tū, Wāhine Toa - Spring Starter Series

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In September 2019 our Spring Starter Series helped 296 wāhine from throughout the Bay of Plenty try a new recreational activity.

Working with 19 community recreation providers from Rotorua, Tauranga, Ōpōtiki and Whakatāne, women of all ages were able to get involved with activities such as waka ama, netball, Indian dancing, yoga and hula fitness.

Waka Ama from the Wāhine Tū Wāhine Toa Spring Starter Series

The aim of the series was to offer women access to low-cost and beginner-friendly physical activities. The Spring Starter Series was in response to Sport NZ research that shows females spend 12 per cent less time participating in physical activities in any given week than males.

Former recreation team leader Sonia Lynds says the series was all about breaking down barriers to participation and encouraging women to get active and try something new in a fun and non-competitive environment.

“We know that time, family commitments and knowledge about who to connect with or where to find a suitable activity are significant barriers to female participation. We therefore wanted to find ways to help women overcome those barriers and meet the national activity guidelines that recommend adults do at least 2.5 hours of moderate or 1.25 hours of vigorous physical activity spread throughout the week.”

Shelley Akuhata from Hulanesian Fitness in Whakatāne was one of the community recreation providers who threw open her doors for beginners, and says she loves teaching classes because she gets to see women of all sizes and backgrounds come together as a community, laugh and get fit.

You can find out more about the Hulanesian Fitness class in the Wāhine Tū, Wāhine Toa Spring Starter Series below.

Discover more way to get active around the Bay of Plenty

Return to the 2019-20 Annual Report

 

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