Auckland – Wellington’s Ngarama Milner-Olsen has been named New Zealand’s best personal trainer at the Exercise NZ awards in Auckland at the weekend.
Judges said Milner-Olsen is incredibly professional, has outstanding communication and rapport with clients, is goal focused and confident.
She has a strength and personal power that empowers her clients and she is an inspiration to everyone, they said.
Jase Te Patu, also of Wellington was named best mind body instructor of the year.
Judges said he embodied Maori principles and values in his yoga teaching, offering his students a rich philosophical tapestry to practice by.
“He is a leader in his ability to teach from the heart and guide a wide range of people deeply into mind body connection,” they said.
The franchise facility of the year went to Anytime Fitness Cashmere, Christchurch; while Les Mills New Lynn, Auckland picked up the supreme club of the year and the best chain or group facility of the year.
Bernadette Smith of Christchurch, who helped set the NZ hula hooping record last month, won the NZ Register of Exercise Professionals award.
Smith broke the record with 199 hoopers gathered together for two minutes, while at the same time raising funds for the NZ Heart Foundation.
Jo Clark of Auckland won the ExerciseNZ award for her outstanding contribution to the exercise industry.
All the winners are:
Educator of the year – Mark Hurdle, Christchurch
Innovation award – Circuband, Christchurch
Programme excellence award – Farm Bootcamp, Canterbury
Community contribution award – FXU Vibe for chronic illness, Wellington
Instinctive fitness community work – Rotorua
Seedling yoga in schools – Wellington
Soaring Words with Zumba – Wilson Home, Auckland
Wellbeing – Your Way, Hamilton
Special awards
NZ Register of Exercise Professionals award – Bernadette Smith Christchurch
Exercise Association of NZ award – Jo Clark, Auckland
Skills active – Manukura award – Gillian Christian, Wellington
Skills active – Te Iti Kahurangi award – The Lab Training Centre, Napier
Individual awards
Group exercise – pre-choreographed instructor of the year – Kelly Hadwin, Auckland
Group exercise – own choreography instructor of the year – Roxanne Flawn, Christchurch
Mind body instructor of the year – Jase Te Patu, Wellington
Small group trainer of the year – Reece McCaffrey, Christchurch
Student of the year – Olivia Bradley, Masterton
Outstanding support award – Kate Maxwell, Christchurch
People’s choice award – Julie Bish, Auckland
Up and coming personal trainer of the year – Kelly MacDonald, Auckland
Personal trainer of the year – Ngarama Milner-Olsen, Wellington
Facility awards
Studio of the year – Studio Glow, Hamilton
Studio of the year – highly commended, Adapted Yoga and Pilates, Christchurch
Franchise facility of the year – Anytime Fitness Cashmere, Christchurch
Independent facility of the year – Ironhood Fitness, Christchurch
Chain / group facility of the year – Les Mills New Lynn, Auckland
Chain / group facility of the year –highly commended – Cityfitness Willis Street, Wellington
Supreme club of the year – Les Mills New Lynn, Auckland
For further information contact Make Lemonade news director Kip Brook on 0275 030188.
Photo: Ngarama Milner-Olsen
