Sport Hawke’s Bay’s Kiwi Seniors programme began in 1991 with the vision to provide our older adult population with an outlet to remain fit, healthy and social by way of gentle exercise. 

Now over 25 years on, with weekly get-togethers in eight locations, the programme continues to do just that. The programme has particularly influenced Maureen O’Donoghue of Hastings Kiwi Seniors and Lois Lannie of Napier Kiwi Seniors for two very different reasons. 

Maureen, 83, has been a part of Kiwi Seniors for over 11 years. When she retired she decided that she was going to have a well deserved 3 months break. After that break, she discovered the Sport Hawke’s Bay Kiwi Seniors programme through a friend and has never looked back since.

“We owe it to ourselves to keep active because we can’t do anything for anyone else if we are not healthy and active,” said Maureen. 

Aside from the group exercise element of the programme Maureen has found the companionship and meeting a lot of new people another great aspect of keeping active in a friendly, supportive environment.

On a recent visit to the doctor, Maureen had her blood pressure taken. “Whatever you are doing, keep doing it,” the doctor commented. 

For Lois Lannie, attending Kiwi Seniors helped her battle cancer. At the age of 65, Lois was diagnosed with breast cancer and at the time had only just joined Kiwi Seniors. After her diagnosis, she was determined to carry on with her exercise regime as much as possible. 

“Apart from when I went to hospital for my mastectomy operation, the removal of my Lymph Nodes and the odd days I was ill after a session of chemotherapy, I kept attending,” said Lois. “Not only for the exercise but for the moral support and the fun and laughter after class with my friends.”

Ten months after her operation her husband gave her a gift voucher for a Lymphatic Massage with a natural therapist who had worked at a breast cancer hospital in England for 20 years. The therapist was absolutely amazed at how fit and well Lois was and had never met anyone in her career who had so much movement in such a short time. Her surgeon was also pleased with her progress. Lois puts this down to attending Kiwi Seniors and hopes to be able to attend for many years to come.

“These programmes are marvellous and always make me feel good,” Lois noted, 10 years on. “It is what gets me up on the mornings and the extra motivation for me is that there are people that are older than me that turn up on a rainy day. My thoughts are, if they can do it, so can I.”

For Maureen, joining Kiwi Seniors was all about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, while Lois joined for the lifestyle and social aspects. 

If you would like to know more about our Kiwi Seniors programme, call Sport Hawke’s Bay on (06) 845 9333 or click here.