Studio muscles in to scoop awards again

The team at Whangarei's Activ8 are celebrating their recent wins at national awards. Photo/Supplied

A Whangarei health and fitness studio has done it again, winning two national awards for the second and third consecutive years.

Activ8 Northland health and fitness studio and its bootcamps have been awarded the 2013 New Zealand studio of the year and small group trainer at the recent New Zealand Fitness Awards.

It's the third consecutive year Activ8 has won the small group trainer award and the second consecutive year it has won studio of the year.

It's a great feat for a business that started in Mair Park four years ago, says co-owner Miranda Harrison. "It feels like a pretty amazing success in a short amount of time.

"Through winning both these awards we were then finalists out of four clubs within New Zealand to win the NZ supreme club of the year which is also a great feat."

The Fitness Industry Awards have been running since 2005, and are designed to recognise those making a contribution to the health and wellness of New Zealanders through exercise and fitness, she said. "And the calibre of entries and the awards in general has increased as it's gone on," Ms Harrison said.

The judging process involved mystery shoppers, questions and answers, and speaking to Activ8's clients, she said.

Activ8 Northland now has 10 qualified personal trainers who are also an integral part of the team, Ms Harrison said.

Future plans for the business include expansion, as well as continuing to support the Whangarei community.

"We want to keep looking after our clients as we get bigger," she said.

"We are looking to hopefully franchise our bootcamps."