Activities and places that foster the social, physical and mental wellbeing of the people of Aotearoa. This includes sport and recreation organisations, as well as cultural organisations that welcome visitors and share or conserve our natural environment and culture (parks, zoos, galleries, libraries, archives and museums). Toi Ora is the sector that provides places and facilities for New Zealanders and visitors to engage with activities for relaxation, education, research, conservation, wellbeing and human connection. Of all the Toi Mai sectors, this has the greatest regional presence.
He rangi whawhati kō, he tau hāwere is the first workforce development plan (WDP) we have developed for Toi Ora. This WDP focuses specifically on the exercise industry and is the result of interviews with 17 industry leaders and further engagements with 80-plus industry people, supported by sector analytics and data. The engagements and understandings developed during this process inform the recommendations to initiate the changes needed to ensure a thriving workforce and productive exercise industry.
The exercise industry includes large private commercial (chain), large public commercial (councils), franchise, one-off private commercial, and community groups and initiatives. The industry struggles with poor staff retention and high turnover, especially in the personal training space, stifling workforce development.
The WDP contains three recommendations for industry and other organisations as well as four actions for Toi Mai to tackle these challenges and work towards a thriving exercise industry by 2035.
Toi Mai would like to acknowledge and thank those who shared their invaluable feedback on the draft WDP. The final plan (including the final recommendations and actions) is linked to in the resources below.
Contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions.
The interview, data analysis, writing and documentation of this workforce development plan has been completed by the Toi Ora team at Toi Mai, all of whom would like to acknowledge the exceptional support of Simon Holbrook, Anton Matthews and Kashmir Kaur.
We are also extremely grateful to the industry leaders, educators, learners and practitioners who gifted their time, feedback and whakaaro participating in the in-depth interviews that form the backbone of this workforce development plan. Their aroha for the future of the exercise industry and the people of Aotearoa that it serves came shining through.
Toi Mai would also like to acknowledge the time and contribution of the following people:
Richard Beddie, Exercise New Zealand
Venessa Blakely, BBM
Ish Cheyne, Les Mills New Zealand
Laura Dyson, Personal Trainer Contractor and Industry Educator
Mandi Hirini, Former Exercise Tutor and Personal Training Manager
Matthew Howard, Christchurch City Council
Aaron Kerehoma, Freelance Exercise Coach and Youth Development
Jesse Laughton, Former Exercise Tutor and Personal Training Manager
Mark Leau, Kingdom Fitness
Dave Letele, BBM
Kelly MacDonald, Personal Trainer Contractor
Nick Makea, Te Mahi Ako
John Manu, Xtreme Hip Hop
Laurent Pang, Oni Studio
Steve Rickard, BodyShot Fitness
Gerry Salmon, Industry Consultant
Mid Thomas-Savelio, BeSuite Studio
Ben Tuimanufili, City Fitness
Kris Tynan, Exercise as Medicine
Mateo Viahu, Tranzformation4U
Toi Mai offices are closed from midday on Friday 20 December and will reopen on Monday 6 January 2025.
We will not be checking phone messages or emails during this period, however please feel free to leave a message and we will respond when we return in the New Year.
Meri Kirihimete me ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa!
