FOR THE LOVE OF MOVEMENT

For sisters Emma and Zoe, gymnastics has always been more than a sport – and now, a brand- new facility in Mangawhai is turning that belief into something the whole community can be part of.

Growing up in Whangārei, gymnastics has been part of life for Emma and Zoe for as long as they can remember. Both began training and competing from a young age, eventually progressing through high-level competition, and between them now bring more than 10 years of coaching experience, qualified through Gymnastics New Zealand.

For the sisters, gymnastics has always been about far more than the skills performed on an apparatus. They credit the sport with shaping who they are today – teaching resilience, discipline, courage, confidence and perseverance, alongside a lifelong love of movement.

When the sisters settled in the Kaipara region in 2020, they quickly recognised a gap: local families were travelling as far as Whangārei or the North Shore just to access gymnastics. With strong encouragement from the local community, they saw an opportunity to bring the sport they loved closer to home, and in early 2024, Kaipara Gymnastics was born.

What began as a handful of fun-gym classes in a shared community space in Kaiwaka has grown into a strong, multi-level recreational programme backed by a dedicated coaching team. As membership grew, so did interest from young athletes wanting to take their sport further – just one year after opening, the club affiliated with Gymnastics New Zealand, creating a genuine competitive pathway for local gymnasts to represent their community across Northland and Auckland.

Now, the opening of a dedicated facility at 2000 Cove Road, just a few minutes from the heart of Mangawhai Heads, marks a natural next chapter. With more space and greater access, Kaipara Gymnastics can expand its programmes, introduce school and homeschool sessions, grow its holiday and daytime activities, and host competitions, workshops and showcases that bring the wider gymsports community to Kaipara.

But for Emma and Zoe, the dream has always been bigger than gymnastics itself. Alongside a team of like-minded coaches and volunteers, they're committed to building a place where a love of movement is fostered from toddlers through to adults – somewhere people can come for fun, chase excellence, build confidence, and discover what they're truly capable of. More than anything, they hope to give the next generation the same lessons gymnastics gave them: growing strong, courageous, capable and confident people, and creating a lasting hub for movement, connection and gymsports in the Kaipara community.

Facebook: Kaipara Gymnastics | www.kaiparagymnastics.co.nz