Reaching health goals is easier with Tracksuit

Human resources manager Dan Parkman supports Waiariki's new staff wellness programme, Tracksuit Inc. Photo / Andrew Warner

Waiariki Institute of Technology has launched a new wellness programme designed to support its staff and their families in leading healthier lifestyles.

Tracksuit Inc is a programme specifically designed to provide businesses with a low-cost workplace wellness scheme requiring minimal administrative input.

The programme contains health initiatives with the aim of engaging all staff members, not just those who actively want to improve their health.

Waiariki staff and their whanau will have access to health questionnaires, presentation videos, challenges and online resources to help them achieve personal well-being goals.

Waiariki Institute of Technology human resources manager Dan Parkman said the institute believed staff and their whanau should be supported to achieve what they thought was a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle.

"Waiariki already has a cafe offering healthy food options, a subsidised recreation centre and employee support programmes, but they're not for everyone.

"Not everyone wants to sweat it out on the five-a-side pitch or be denied a pie at lunch."

Mr Parkman said for some people a better lifestyle could be as simple as turning off their smartphones before they went to bed for a better night's sleep.

"For some people it's about eating a little more fruit and veges or turning off their smartphones before bed while others set themselves more challenging goals like biking the lake at the Rotorua Bike Festival or maybe doing the Rotorua Xterra off-road triathlon."

He said Waiariki introduced Tracksuit Inc to help staff achieve the lifestyle goals they chose to set themselves.

"If they want to lose a few pounds or just feel better about themselves, then Tracksuit Inc can help them. If they're not ready just yet, that's fine. It'll be there for when they are," he said.

"The programme itself can help understand their current well-being, get tips and suggestions on ways to improve it and maybe even sign up to some fun challenges to motivate them to get to their goals and compete with their mates if they want. Since it's all online with confidential, personalised accounts, they can access it anywhere, any time, on demand."