Whānau continues to take first place

MEDIA RELEASE

28th October 2014.

Whānau 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 Māori 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 Māori 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 Pūtahitanga, an organisation that invests in whānau, 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.

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