April 05, 2015
Patu expanding by shrinking waistlines
A people’s choice award will help a Hastings gym to take its anti-obesity message nationwide.
Patu Aotearoa won the $20,000 Contact People’s Choice award offered as part of Launchpad, a social enterprise accelerator run by the Akina Foundation.
The award was voted for on the Element web site.
There is the prospect of more funding coming, depending on how potential investors respond to their performance on the Launchpad pitch day.
Co-founder Jackson Warea says Patu came about from observing that Maori and Pacific people are happier doing activities in groups rather than solo exercise routines.
Mr Warea along with Levi Armstrong and Kia Diamond developed programmes they run not just in their gym but in marae, schools, workplaces and prisons.
It’s about having them move in a fun environment, putting them around people who are having the same weight-related issues or social issues and seeing they are not the only ones struggling. There is an epidemic of obesity so there are other people out there looking for support. We keep it as fun as we can, Mr Warea says
Patu has started a branch in Wairoa with 100 whanau, and it is looking at expanding to Wellington soon.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com