Pacific Northland Collective | Wellbeing in Action: F45 Whangārei Moving Pacific Families Forward
Through Pasefika Proud support, F45 Whangārei has become more than a gym. It’s a hub of health, connection, and cultural strength within the Pacific Northland Collective. Co-owners Terai and Matt Elia are creating a space where Pacific families feel welcome, supported, and empowered to take charge of their wellbeing.
“From the start, we wanted to do something to incorporate the Pacific community… to get them moving,” says Terai, a nurse in mental health and addictions.
Matt, born in Samoa and raised in Dunedin, shares the same vision.
“Coming up here, I didn’t think there were any Islanders in Whangārei. Now we’ve created a place where they come together, sometimes not even for the workout, just to connect.”
“And that’s fine. If that’s what makes them happy, this is a space where they feel comfortable to be around their people.”
The Pacific classes began modestly, with a few members of the Fijian community swapping out Friday kava nights for group workouts. Word spread quickly. Now, three dedicated sessions each week cater specifically to Pacific families. Island music plays, Pacific trainers lead the sessions, and the environment is family friendly. Children are welcome in the workouts or in the on-site kids’ area.
“We know gyms can be intimidating, especially for those who haven’t grown up with them,” Terai says.
“In the islands, you get your exercise through work, chores, walking, not treadmills. Here, you look around and see familiar faces, people on the same journey. It makes it easier to keep coming back.”
While F45’s role in the Pacific Northland Collective centres on health and wellbeing, their impact stretches beyond physical fitness.
“We’ve had members come off or reduce medication for diabetes, improve sleep, gain confidence,” Terai explains. One standout moment came when a participant’s diabetes improved so dramatically through regular exercise that their hospital specialist discharged them from ongoing appointments.
The team also weaves in accessible health education: short weekly seminars on topics like cholesterol, diabetes, and nutrition, plus one-on-one support as needed. Health assessments cover blood pressure, heart rate, and body composition. When needed, members are connected to GPs, sometimes for the first time in years.
As part of the Pacific Northland Collective, F45 Whangārei complements the strengths of the other providers.
“Our lane is health and wellbeing, physical and mental,” Terai says, “if there’s an employment issue, we go to Tokotoko Solutions.
“For education, we go to Te Kamo High School. And they do the same for us. We each stick to what we know, but we help each other out.”
The partnership with Pasefika Proud enables the Northland Pacific Collective to sustain this work and expand its reach.
“With the backing of Pasefika Proud, we can provide this support from so many different avenues… a holistic approach that’s going to be really special for our people,” says Terai.
The vision for the future is simple but powerful: a sustainable model that keeps growing to fill gaps and strengthen Pacific communities in Northland.
As Matt puts it, “For us, we just want to do the best we can to support families who are struggling. Whatever we can do to support them, we will.”
The Pacific Northland Collective is made up of Tokotoko Solutions, F45 Whangārei, and Te Kamo High School.
With support from Pasefika Proud, the Collective is trialling a new model of Pacific-led, outcomes-focused support for families in Northland, from work readiness and education to health and wellbeing.
Pacific populations in Northland represent high needs, particularly in the areas of housing, health, and economic opportunity, though the largest Pacific population resides in Auckland. Northland shows higher rates of Pacific youth and older adults, alongside a higher dependency ratio compared to the national average for Pacific peoples, suggesting that a larger portion of the population may require more social and economic support. The region faces challenges such as housing affordability, a lack of accessible healthcare services, and disparities in education and employment outcomes.
Northland Pacific Population and Employment (PDF 51 KB)