Take the Zumba fitness craze and add a dash of Maori culture and you've got Te Zumba.
A group of Tauranga fitness instructors are using exercise to emphasise the importance of a healthy lifestyle to Maori and Pakeha alike.
Te Zumba instructors Maringirangi Pohatu, her partner Tanerore Manawaiti-Barbarich and friend Lena Kairauwill take to the stage at the Bay's ASB Women's Walk for Breast Cancer.
The group - decked out in pink - will perform a routine to the classic Kiwi hit Poi E.
The group started Te Zumba in June and were invited to perform at the "pink walk" after they were spotted dancing at a Zumba party.
Te Zumba takes the classic Zumba moves and mixes them with kapa haka.
While it's obvious these fitness freaks are having a lot of fun, there's a serious message behind the smiles.
"We want to share the message about breast cancer awareness," Ms Pohatu said.
"If we can touch even one person to have their breasts examined from something we say or do on stage, that will be awesome."
The te reo teacher is passionate about breast cancer awareness - she lost an aunt, Teryl Hudson, to the disease earlier this year.
"Because of her we have all become a lot more aware. "Go and get checked.
"There's myths out there, some Maori say breast cancer is a Pakeha disease. That's not true."
Ms Kairau and her family have also been affected by cancer - her cousin was diagnosed last year at just 33.
She urged women to self-check their breasts, to go for regular mammograms and to look after their general health and fitness.
"Just keep active and keep moving ... If you don't look after your body, where are you going to live?"
The trio teach Zumba classes at Cliff Rd each Monday and Wednesday night to a group for all ages, which is made up of mostly women.
Ms Pohatu, 37, and Mr Manawaiti-Barbarich, 39, have lost 30kg between them since starting Zumba less than a year ago.
They believed the appeal of Zumba was the music - and that it was a lot of fun.
The trio are selling pink tiki at their Zumba class for $30 - $5 of which goes to the Tauranga Breast Cancer Support Service.
The ASB Women's Walk for Breast Cancer is at 6pm on Wednesday, October 20.
Entry forms are available from all ASB branches, Smiths Sport Shoes, More FM, Breast Cancer Support Service Tauranga, and in local sports and cycle shops.
Entry is $5.
