South Auckland gym owner wins $50,000, offers free fitness classes to 100 people
Hi neighbours,
A south Auckland gym owner has started an initiative to promote health and wellbeing in his community after winning $50,000.
Papatoetoe resident Alan Leuluai, 56, owns the Anytime Fitness gym in Manukau, and is one of the ten nationwide recipients of the AIA Vitality Business and Community Grant Initiative.
The initiative offers grants to improve the health and wellbeing of local communities.
Leuluai has created a 12-week fitness programme targeted at Māori and Pasifika people.
The programme includes free access to the gym for 12 weeks, access to a personal trainer, three fitness classes and a workshop on nutrition.
It will be offered to 100 people, who will also receive a 50 percent gym membership discount if they refuse to give up and “show grit and determination” over the 12 weeks.
The standard membership fee is $17 a week.
Leuluai said costs are a big barrier that prevent people from getting into fitness.
“We want to tackle obesity because it is the root cause of many problems in our community, like diabetes and high blood pressure,” he said.
“If we get some families into a healthy routine of exercising that can have a ripple effect in the rest of the community.”
The grants competition is run by AIA New Zealand, a leading life insurance specialist.
Poll: Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?
🎁 Holiday Gift Chat!
Do you ever regift?
What’s your take on asking for a receipt if a gift doesn’t fit?
-
78.8% Yes! It's better to regift what I don't need
-
21.2% No. It's the thought and effort that matters
Today’s Mind-Bender is the Last of the Year! Can You Guess It Before Everyone Else? 🌟🎁🌲
I dance in the sky with green and gold, a spectacle few are lucky to behold; I’m best seen in the south, a celestial sight—what am I, lighting up the New Zealand night?
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.
By-election for Otara-Papatoetoe area
Just to let everyone know that we have another by-election happening, and here is the reason why. Below are details and dates, so keep an eye on your letter boxes.
The Manukau Court’s Ruling
The Manukau District Court determined that the Papatoetoe subdivision result of the Ōtara–Papatoetoe Local Board election was invalid, ruling that the outcome had been “materially affected” by voting irregularities. Judge Richard McIlraith found that the scale and nature of the irregularities met the legal threshold required to void an election under New Zealand’s local electoral laws.
In his decision, Judge McIlraith stated that the evidence presented — including reports of stolen voting papers, fraudulent use of ballots, and other procedural irregularities — was sufficient to conclude that the integrity of the election had been compromised. The court noted that at least 79 voting papers were identified as having been cast without the rightful voter’s knowledge during a judicially supervised examination of ballot boxes.
While the judge acknowledged that the election had been administered “properly and in accordance with all requirements” by Independent Election Services and the electoral officer, he concluded that the fraudulent activity originated outside the official process and nonetheless impacted the final result to a degree that required the election to be voided.
As a result of the ruling, the court ordered that a new election must be held, with Auckland Council confirming that the fresh poll must be completed by 9 April 2026
Loading…
