Iron Ron brands Wai Weight a winner

Pictured, from left, is gym owner Bevan Mackenzie, NZ First election campaign director of operations Api Dawson, Tamara Mark, Mr Mark's niece and campaign supporter, and Mr Mark. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

New Zealand First candidate for Wairarapa Ron Mark was pumping campaign iron on Tuesday during his tour of a private Masterton gym he described as a fitness industry success story.

Mr Mark, who also is Mayor of Carterton, had trained as a career soldier at gyms across New Zealand and the globe and was impressed at the range of training gear and professional layout at the Wai Weight Private Gym in Masterton, which was an annex to the family home of owners Bevan and Rachel Mackenzie and their three children.

"I've trained in gyms in London and the Middle East and all over New Zealand - it was my life for a long time. But I'm struggling to think of a gym this size that has such an array of equipment, and a gym that's based on respect and honesty and no membership contracts. It's unique, innovative, and absolutely franchisable," he said.

"I like to use an analogy and ask why special forces are special - whether you're talking about DHBs, governance, or small business? They're special because they're small, they're compact, they're nimble and flexible, and they can turn on a thimble and change direction. Businesses like this."

Mr and Mrs Mackenzie first opened their private gym eight years ago at a home they formerly owned in Bentley St. About five years ago the family shifted to a second property in the same street, expanding and refining the gym.

Wai Weight today offers membership by referral, or at the owners' discretion, and is the training centre for four world champions including Joel Hintz (2014 world champion powerlifter); Fa'avae Sefo (2013 world single saw champion); Zane Hopman (2014 Muay Thai world champion kickboxer); and Brett Gibbs (2014 world champion powerlifter).

Mr Mackenzie and his wife have each won national medals in bodybuilding, and he had been often urged to open similar operations in other areas and regions, he said, but had instead concentrated his efforts on the Masterton business while also helping friends open a small gym in Greytown.

"I've tossed and turned about opening somewhere else, but I don't want this gym any bigger. It might become like any other gym. The members here seem to love the atmosphere, which is created by the people. I don't want to lose that."

Mr Mackenzie said he also was involved with teachers who were gym members, and had helped intermediate school students develop training regimes at the gym as an incentive for good behaviour in class.

"It's just for ten weeks but it gives the kids something to look forward to."

Mr Mark praised the arrangement, which he said would also offer pupils "structure and discipline, goal-setting and satisfaction, and world champions as role models".

"You couldn't ask for better people to help and provide incentives to the young," Mr Mark said.

"You're not just a Wairarapa success story, you're a Wairarapa role model and a very unique and successful business model. If I was one of the traditional gym operators, I'd be worried about someone like you."