January 21, 2015
Patu challenge to Maori obesity
A Hastings gym is targeting obesity in the Maori and Pacific community.
Patu was founded two years ago by Jackson Waerea and EIT graduate Levi Armstrong, and now has 300 members.
Mr Armstrong says it has had mentoring through social enterprise incubator Launchpad, and was taking a business approach to its activities so it was not reliant on outside funders.
As well as as its Orchard Road gym, Patu has invested in vehicles so it can offer a mobile service.
"We do have a few marae doing Patu and we have also done some mahi at prison and workplaces so employers are investing in their staff, getting their staff fitter and healthier so the healthier staff are going to be more economical and more value in the workplace," he says.
Mr Armstrong says Patu is now ready to go national, offering franchises to other providers who want to run a kaupapa Maori gym.
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