NEWS
News and views from the New Zealand fitness industry.
The green light to increase productivity and reduce workplace stress
It’s not often that I see a new product in the exercise
industry that I feel can benefit all trainers and facilities
to such an extent that in five years’ time we will look
back and say ‘Wow, that was the turning point’ – but
I believe it’s just arrived. Following on from the Inland
Revenue Department’s (IRD) ruling that certain forms
of exercise do not attract Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) and
are tax deductible for businesses, ExerciseNZ has
just completed its new Stress Management Exercise
Association Endorsement Process (SMEAEP). With
SMEAEP in place, the framework now exists for our
industry to engage with employers of all sizes, from
the self-employed, through to the large employers,
to use exercise as a tool to both increase productivity
and help manage workplace stress. Not only is this a
legal requirement for employers, we already know that
employees, on the whole, see benefit in employers
supporting their wellbeing, so it’s a genuine win-win.
Already several dozen providers, ranging from
large clubs through to independent personal trainers,
have applied for endorsement. With their product
offerings ranging from single PT sessions through to
comprehensive stress management programs and boot
camp-style packages, it is evident that the diversity of
our industry’s products is no barrier to being involved
in SMEAEP.
As I noted, a few years down the track when we
look back at the launch of SMEAEP, I genuinely believe
we will view it as the opening of the floodgates – an
incredible opportunity for our industry, employers, and
the government to work together for a more active, less
stressed and more productive workforce.
For more information on SMEAEP, or to apply to be
endorsed, visit stressmanagementexercise.co.nz
Richard Beddie
CEO, ExerciseNZ
REPs now number quarter of a million globally
The number of exercise professionals
registered globally has now hit over a
quarter of a million, thanks to the inclusion
of the newest member association, US
REPs.
In New Zealand the registration of
exercise professionals is managed by
REPs NZ, and its registrar Stephen Gacsal
commented ‘It’s great to have the US on
board with us. New Zealand exercise
professionals are highly sought after
globally, and those registered with REPs
NZ now have portability to more than half
a dozen countries, including the two most
popular ‘OE’ destinations of Australia and
the UK. Having the US join the fold only
serves to further strengthen us globally.’
REPs NZ is a founding member of
the international group ICREPs (the
International Confederation of Registers
for Exercise Professionals), which now
operates across 5 continents.
20 | NETWORK WINTER 2014
ExerciseNZ explores ways to reduce
exercise-related accidents
As a result of an almost 80 per cent growth in accident-related costs
from exercise in the past five years, ExerciseNZ and ACC (Accident
Compensation Corporation) are looking at working together to
develop strategies to reduce accident rates in this area. While it’s very
early days, ExerciseNZ is keen to work with ACC to firstly research
the causes of the increase, and ultimately develop evidence-based
solutions to address them.