Three Auckland gyms which were told to shut up shop last week have now been given a week's reprieve by the High Court, with urgent talks kicking off today.
Justice Winkelmann issued an interim injunction against Jolt Fitness last Wednesday, requiring the owners to shut down its Westgate, Three Kings and Botany health clubs.
Her decision came after Stuart Holder, who owned three Club Physical gym franchises, suddenly rebranded the clubs as "Jolt Fitness" without warning on February 8.
Club Physical owner Paul Richards applied to the High Court for an injunction to stop Jolt Fitness from operating, claiming Holder had breached franchise agreements which had years to run on them.
Holder, who said he was "incredibly surprised and disappointed" by Justice Winkelmann's decision to grant the injunction, refused to close down and then lodged an urgent appeal for a stay of the order to close the three clubs.