Fitness fad boosts city’s YMCA users

Aucklanders are hitting the gym in unprecedented numbers and the spike is leading to one of the city’s oldest fitness establishments cashing in.

Exercise NZ data showed that nationally, there has been an increase in gym memberships of more than 50 per cent in the past 10 years – with Auckland attendance up significantly since 2016.

Gym membership prices in Auckland cost upwards of $20 per week with prices varying for students and seniors.

YMCA group recreation manager Graham Hill said with memberships from just $18, it had experienced a 20 per cent increase in gym attendance since 2015 as some Aucklanders opt for ‘‘more than just a gym’’.

The first YMCA in New Zealand opened in

‘‘Nowadays, there are lots of choices for the fitness consumer in terms of product, price, facility and location, particularly in Auckland.’’

Auckland in 1855. There were now 12 of the fitness and recreation centres across the city – including four aquatic sites and eight with indoor sports stadiums.

Ten of the sites were owned by Auckland Council for which YMCA held the managing contracts.

‘‘People are seeing the value because we are more than just weights and treadmills,’’ Hill said.

‘‘We also offer before and after school care, sports leagues, holiday programmes, learn to swim programmes and early childhood education. We have something for everyone, from kids to seniors, and families can access a range of services all under one roof.’’

YMCA’s flagship facility in Auckland CBD would re-open on February 15 following a multimillion dollar rebuild.

Before its closure in late 2015 due to storm damage, the facility attracted more than 65,000 users each year and Hill anticipated that would increase given recent membership trends.

The total cost of the rebuild was $2m funded by the Lottery Community Facilities Fund, Foundation North, Four Winds Foundation, New Zealand Community Trust, the Lion Foundation and the YMCA itself.

The state of the fitness sector in Auckland on the whole was ‘‘extremely healthy’’, largely thanks to consumers having more to choose from than in years past, Exercise NZ’s Richard Beddie said.

‘‘Nowadays, there are lots of choices for the fitness consumer in terms of product, price, facility and location, particularly in Auckland,’’ he said.