Launchpad meet the teams: Patu Aotearoa

Levi Armstrong of Patu Aotearoa. Photo / Mark Tantrum

Rosie Bosworth talks to Levi Armstrong of Patu Aotearoa - one of the 11 teams taking part in the Launchpad incubator programme.

This month Element readers decide on the 'People's Choice' from the 11 social enterprises in the Launchpad accelerator, thereby deciding who receives the $20,000 prize from Contact to help further their endeavours. Social enterprises are purpose-driven organisations that trade to deliver social or environmental impact. Click below to access the voting form, and click on each team's name to learn more.
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RB: Describe Patu Aoteaoa?

Levi Armstrong: Patu Aotearoa is a whanau-based gym that delivers group exercise sessions in a fun environment. We aim to reduce health and social issues and inspire healthy, active lifestyles within communities, marae, workplaces and schools.

RB: Tell us about the brains behind Patu.

LA: Patu consists of myself (Levi Armstrong), Jackson Waerea and Kia Diamond. Each of us are fit, healthy Maori born and bred in the Hawke's Bay. We all have young family and a love of sports and chilling out with our wh?nau. I have a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation. Jackson is a trainer at Patu and a health promoter at Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga. Kia is our administrator. She is wanting to up-skill and develop her knowledge in the business administration sector.

RB: Tell us about the "aha" moment that bought Patu to life?

LA: After gaining the experience of studying and working as a personal trainer at local gyms I wanted to create a product and a brand that worked for our whanau. I saw merging group exercise with a whanau-based environment as a great opportunity to engage with community and make a positive change.

RB: What gaps does Patu fill?
LA: Patu's model is unique in that it creates an environment and a place where our whanau and communities can feel comfortable and worthy. We are a positive tribe, creating positive changes among communities of New Zealanders - both physically and mentally. Unique to Patu is our specific focus on inspiring whanau to invest in health and wellbeing, and gain a greater sense of purpose and value.

RB: What will society look like 10 years from now because of Patu?

LA: We will have engaged with whanau across NZ from all walks of life and helped to support and inspire them and transform them into healthier, more fulfilled people. We will have created a positive tribe of people and helped to reduce the health and social disparities that we have in Aotearoa.

RB: Do you see Patu evolving into something bigger?

LA: We want to transform Patu into a nationwide, franchiseable fitness model, so that irrespective of location, we can provide the tools and support to whanau who are willing to make positive changes in their lives. We'd also like to create more community leaders and community using our model as a way to share knowledge and vision with whanau across NZ in ways beyond just exercise.

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Check out Te Radar's interview with Patu Aotearoa

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