Better service promised as gym chain buys out Jenkins

New muscle and more jobs are on the horizon for the Wairarapa fitness industry with the takeover of one of the town's main health and fitness clubs.
Cityfitness, an award-winning family-run business, have bought out Jenkins Gym in southern Queen Street and are looking to open the doors under new management on April 29, said Dominic Rogerson, managing director for the Cityfitness group.
Mr Rogerson said the Masterton gym would join the two Cityfitness centres already established in Porirua and Johnsonville and will come onboard about the same time the business opens another branch in Palmerston North.
He said Cityfitness would have about 7000 members across all their operations once the new clubs are up and running, with up to 600 people already training at the Masterton gym.
The company is based in Porirua, he said.
The Cityfitness club will at first offer traditional weight training facilities, extensive cardio areas and a variety of group fitness classes, he said.
Personal trainers will also be available for individualized training and other services will extend to a creche, sports massage, a sun bed and a health shop selling exercise supplements.
There is a "very real" possibility of new staff in Masterton, he said, to match plans for new and improved fitness and health facilities that may also include the installation of a sauna.
Mr Rogerson said there are now about 25 staff employed at the gym.
He talked with the Masterton staff yesterday about their ideas toward improving the service, and will combine these with company philosophies and strategies.
"We are looking to grow, so we will be needing new staff.
There will also be more equipment introduced into the cardio area at first, and a sauna is standard for our clubs.
"Our focus is to enhance what is already a good club and there are many projects we'd like to complete ? right now we're going through ideas but we are ready to make a fair investment in improving the Masterton club."
In 2003 Cityfitness was voted the "Most Vibrant Business" at the Porirua Business Awards and was recognised as the "Best Business" at the North Wellington Business Awards.
The company also runs Citydance, a dance academy in Porirua.
The Jenkins Gym company, based in Lower Hutt, have operated the Masterton gym for four years since first opening in April 2002. The company were the first fitness centre established in the Wellington region.