NZ fitness centres back to 70 percent activity levels
Christchurch - New Zealand gyms and facilities were back to 70 percent activity levels within two weeks of re-opening at covid level two according to the latest survey ExerciseNZ survey, chief executive Richard Beddie says.
The nationwide study post-covid showed the number of new people keen to stay physical active at facilities was higher than many expected.
But Beddie says trainers have been hit harder than gyms, with many reporting around barely 50 to 60 percent pre-covid income, Beddie says.
“While 70 percent is a solid start, it’s not enough for most facilities and gyms to survive as they have very high fixed business costs. A downturn of 30 percent is not sustainable for long, so all exercise facilities will be exploring options over the coming months on how to stay viable.
“The biggest challenges for gyms are their commercial leases, with almost 50 percent of landlords refusing to have meaningful engagement with tenants.
“While the government has made a positive step in this direction, it doesn't go far enough and it is limited to smaller workplaces. Large businesses don't have magic pots of money - the support should apply to all businesses in our view.
“City centre gyms have been hit harder than suburban gyms due to the 40 percent of kiwis that are still working from home during some or all of their working week.
“The exercise industry has proven itself relatively robust through economic downturns. It grew around one percent through the global financial crisis, even though the New Zealand economy shrunk.
“But post-covid will be the biggest challenge to the industry since it first started in the 1960s. The full effects of the economic impacts of covid-19 are yet to hit many businesses.
“We expect the unemployment rate and hence gym memberships to see the full effects over the next three to six months,” Beddie says.
For further information contact Make Lemonade NZ editor-in-chief Kip Brook on 0275 030188
Lisa was born in Auckland at the start of the 1970s, living in a small campsite community on the North Shore called Browns Bay. She spent a significant part of her life with her grandparents, often hanging out at the beaches. Lisa has many happy memories from those days at Browns Bay beach, where fish were plentiful on the point and the ocean was rich in seaweed. She played in the water for hours, going home totally “sun-kissed.” “An adorable time to grow up,” Lisa tells me.
Lisa enjoyed many sports; she was a keen tennis player and netballer, playing in the top teams for her age right up until the family moved to Wellington. Lisa was fifteen years old, which unfortunately marked the end of her sporting career. Local teams were well established in Wellington, and her attention was drawn elsewhere.