NEWS
News and views from the New Zealand fitness industry.
Sugar – to tax or not to tax, that is the question. The answer is education.
Recently there has been pressure put on the New Zealand
Government to tax sugar, especially in high sugar
drinks, by those who link its increased consumption to
New Zealand’s high obesity levels. At the same time,
evidence has been presented by a New Zealand-based
think tank purporting to show that sugar taxes do not
reduce obesity and are little more than a ‘revenue grab’
by governments.
While the jury is out on whether or not sugar-based
taxes are desirable, or even effective, what is clear is
that to change New Zealand’s climbing obesity levels,
a combination of dietary changes and increased
physical activity levels is necessary. For that reason, the
qualifications that New Zealand exercise professionals
will be required to undertake to meet the newly developed
NZQA New Zealand certificates will have an increased
focus on nutrition, and in particular how diet and exercise
work together to help clients achieve their goals.
The new qualifications are being developed for
the NZQA framework through a collaborative process
facilitated by Skills Active Aotearoa, which includes input
from education providers, employers and employees.
REPs Election
The New Zealand Register of Exercise
Professionals (REPs) recently held its election
for the exercise professional elected board
member, and has announced Kris Tynan has
been re-elected as a board member.
The board is made up of three individuals
– one appointed by ExerciseNZ, one
elected by exercise professionals, and an
independent chairperson.
For more details on REPs, visit reps.org.nz
The new qualifications are likely to be in place by the end
of 2016, and delivered soon after that.
New Zealand’s registration body for Exercise
Professionals, REPs, is supportive of the new
qualifications’ direction, as is Exercise New Zealand, the
industry body. With the delivery of the new qualifications,
exercise professionals will be even better positioned
to support New Zealanders and, together with the
government, work on ways to reduce obesity, as well
as the significant financial burden it is placing on New
Zealand’s public health system.
So, while sugar taxes are being debated, the exercise
industry is doing its bit to educate, motivate and inspire
Kiwis to be more active and eat more healthily – and yes,
that likely means less sugar!
Richard Beddie
CEO, ExerciseNZ
[email protected]
Record applications to present
at New Zealand’s Exercise
Conference
Industry Awards entries open
FitEx, NZ’s conference focusing on the
science and business of fitness and exercise,
has had record applications from both national
and international presenters, with almost 100
individuals applying to deliver sessions.
Held in late November each year at
AUT University in Auckland, this year the
schedule is likely to include over 90 sessions
ranging from business to yoga, and from
exercise trends to nutrition (and everything in
between). With last year’s event having over
700 attendees, FitEx in 2016 looks set to be
New Zealand’s must-attend event for the
collective exercise industry.
Entries are now open for the 2016 Exercise
Industry Awards. Designed to recognise
the great work of those who work in fitness,
there are over a dozen categories to reflect
the diverse nature of the industry – with
everything from mind body instructors
through to categories for large facilities
receiving acknowledgement.
As in previous years, individuals
and businesses can self-nominate, and
individuals/facilities can be nominated by
anyone, which is a great way to recognise
your personal trainer or a yoga instructor at
your local studio, or any individual or business
that is doing extra special work to improve the
health and wellness of those in New Zealand.
For more information on FitEx,
visit fitex.co.nz
For full details, or to nominate, visit
exerciseindustryawards.co.nz
NETWORK WINTER 2016 | 67