Andy and Charissa Barham (Ngāti Kahungunu) own and operate a successful gym in the Hawke’s Bay region of Havelock North.

Andy has a farming and forestry background having been brought up in Reporoa, while Charissa has a physical education teaching background and was born and bred in Hawke’s Bay.

The couple were members at a gym in Havelock North but identified that their gym wasn’t quite what they needed so in August 2004 they decided to set up their own gym. And they haven’t looked back.

“In the first year we were blown away with how well our business had taken off because we had about 600 members,” says Andy.

“Within about six months of business our competition and the gym we used to be members at closed down,” he says.

Peak Fitness employs 15 part-time staff; there are four personal trainers and other business owners include aerobics instructors, massage therapists, a nutritionist and more.

Andy and Charissa approached Te Puni Kōkiri for further business support and were able to re-engage the services of a professional business mentor.

With the assistance of the mentor they identified further areas to add value to the gym for the benefit of their members. As a result they set up a top-class boxing training area with structured classes and programmes with the funding support of Poutama Trust.

“What I love about my job is that I get to see businesses grow over time and in Andy and Charissa’s case they have done extremely well and are great business role models,” says Te Puni Kōkiri Business Facilitation Service account manager Henry Heke.

“They have been proactive in growing their business and in this current economic climate this approach will help them achieve their business goals,” he says.

At present the gym has a membership of about 740 and they have set a goal of increasing membership to 900.

“I trained with Les Mills as a personal trainer to gain first-hand experience to help me run the gym successfully,” says Charissa.

“I now run a six-week Active Mums programme that includes pre- and post-natal exercises that keep mum and child healthy and fit,” she says.

For more information or to contact Andy and Charissa: www.peakfitnessandhealth.co.nz.