Category: AM-NC

In February 2026, Gumboot Friday helped 1,754 young people aged 5–25 access free counselling, delivering a total of 2,721 sessions. Every session is free, needs no referral, and is chosen by the young person from a network of registered counsellors on the Gumboot Friday platform.

Breakdown by age group:

• 490 young people aged 5–11 (28%)
• 510 young people aged 12–17 (29%)
• 754 young people aged 18–25 (43%)

These numbers show what early intervention actually looks like: young people getting seen when they need it, not after things reach crisis point, not when “things get bad enough”.

“I look at the February numbers and I see the kids behind them — and a lot of them are still in primary school. The tricky thing is, a child who needs to talk doesn’t always look ‘obviously’ distressed. It can show up as being snappy, going quiet, not sleeping, acting out, or even without any obvious tells at all. What matters is they get the chance to sit down with someone who actually listens — properly — before things pile up,” says I Am Hope founder Mike King.

“Government funding covers the counselling sessions themselves, and donations to I Am Hope are what keep Gumboot Friday running — onboarding counsellors, maintaining the system, running our school programmes, and supporting the wider foundation. To everyone who’s backed this kaupapa, thank you. It means help is there when our young people need it,” King says.

If you’re 25 and under and need someone to talk to, visit www.gumbootfriday.org.nz to connect with a counsellor for Free. No GP referral needed.

To donate, fundraise, or get involved with I Am Hope and Gumboot Friday, head to www.iamhope.org.nz or text HOPE to 469 for a $3 donation.

11 March 2026, 3 pm – NZ First and ACT appear to be threatening to sink a tax measure that would close a major tax loophole and raise important revenue for the government. Tax Justice Aotearoa and the Better Taxes Coalition say this is a concerning development.

It was reported in the NZ Herald today that the coalition parties are likely to oppose the proposal currently being considered by the Government for company loans to be treated as taxable income in circumstances where the shareholder would otherwise gain a tax advantage compared with recipients of dividends or salaries.

“This is a significant loophole – it creates unfairness and deprives the government of much needed revenue – and it looked like the Government was going to move to close it,” said Glenn Barclay, spokesperson of Tax Justice Aotearoa and the Better Taxes Coalition.

“It is concerning that  NZ First and ACT,  might not support a measure that both Australia and the UK have and which will address what appears to be a very significant distortion in the tax system. Shareholders owe around $29b to companies at the moment – that is a substantial amount and it needs to be taxed appropriately,” said Barclay.

Tax Justice Aotearoa submitted to the IRD consultation on the proposal and argued the UK legislation was the best model for Aotearoa New Zealand to follow. There the tax charge is linked to the loan and is repayable if the loan is repaid, providing an incentive to do so and ensuring that legitimate loans will not be taxed.

“The UK model is well established and a workable approach that would not result in excessive taxation,” said Glenn Barclay. “But would remove the current distortion and gather revenue that’s currently being lost to this loophole.”

Tax Justice Aotearoa noted the 2017-18 Tax Working Group recommended that closely held companies should provide security to IRD if the company was owed a debt by a shareholder and there was doubt about the ability and/or the intention of the shareholder to repay the debt and therefore should have been taxed as if the loan was a dividend or salary.

“The rhetoric around this has been intentionally overblown”, said Glenn Barclay. “With the right design, taxing shareholder loans would be a practical response to a real problem of unfairness and lost revenue – it would not be ‘draconian’ or ‘double taxation’. We call on all the parties in the Coalition Government to take a constructive approach to address this major loophole in our tax system”.

“In a time when many sectors are experiencing contraction, the exercise industry is showing steady and meaningful growth. New Zealanders continue to prioritise their health and wellbeing, recognising that exercise is not a luxury, it’s an essential part of living well.”

“There has never been more information available, but not all of it is accurate or safe,”

“In New Zealand we’re fortunate to have REPs (the Register of Exercise Professionals), an independent body that verifies exercise professionals and requires them to maintain recognised qualifications and annual registration… This helps ensure New Zealanders receive safe, trusted, evidence-based guidance tailored to their individual needs.”

“Even in uncertain times, New Zealanders are choosing to invest in their health. The exercise industry is not just weathering economic challenges, it’s growing, adapting, and playing a critical role in improving the physical and mental well-being of our communities.”

New Zealand’s exercise industry continues to grow despite economic uncertainty, with new consumer research showing increasing participation, strong long-term demand, and rising trust in qualified exercise professionals.

The latest Exercise New Zealand consumer survey found that an estimated 2.67 million adults (69%) now exercise, representing continued growth and a clear signal that exercise remains a priority for Kiwis, even during financially challenging times. Of those, over 993,000 regularly exercise at structured exercise facilities such as gyms and studios, representing 26% of adults,  a significant increase from 22% in 2024.

Perhaps even more positive for the exercise industry is the potential for further growth. A further 192,000 New Zealanders who do not currently use an exercise professional indicated they intend to start within the next six months, representing a potential 19% increase in demand for professional exercise services.

Exercise New Zealand Chief Executive Richard Beddie says the findings demonstrate the industry’s resilience and its growing importance to the wellbeing of New Zealanders.

“In a time when many sectors are experiencing contraction, the exercise industry is showing steady and meaningful growth. New Zealanders continue to prioritise their health and wellbeing, recognising that exercise is not a luxury, it’s an essential part of living well.”

Participation in structured exercise has reached record levels, with nearly one million adults now engaging with gyms, studios, or exercise professionals, reflecting a growing demand for guided, supportive environments.

The research also highlights strong future growth potential. Approximately 19% more adults are considering using an exercise professional in the coming year, signalling continued expansion in demand for qualified support.

Trusted Professionals Matter

In an era where social media and online platforms are saturated with unverified fitness advice, the research reinforces the critical role of qualified exercise professionals. More New Zealanders are actively choosing to work with trained professionals, recognising the value of expert guidance, safety, motivation, and personalised programmes.

“There has never been more information available, but not all of it is accurate or safe,” says Beddie.

Exercise professionals also play a key role in supporting broader wellbeing outcomes. People who engage with structured exercise providers are more likely to experience benefits, including improved mental health, increased confidence, and healthier overall lifestyles.

“In New Zealand we’re fortunate to have REPs (the Register of Exercise Professionals), an independent body that verifies exercise professionals and requires them to maintain recognised qualifications and annual registration,” says Beddie. “This helps ensure New Zealanders receive safe, trusted, evidence-based guidance tailored to their individual needs.”

Their training, certification, and accountability give New Zealanders confidence that they are receiving safe and effective advice from qualified professionals.

A Positive Future

The research confirms that exercise continues to hold strong perceived value, with 98% of New Zealanders recognising physical activity as important, and growing numbers seeing exercise as central to mental health, lifestyle, and overall wellbeing.

Exercise New Zealand says the results highlight both resilience and opportunity for the sector.

“Even in uncertain times, New Zealanders are choosing to invest in their health. The exercise industry is not just weathering economic challenges, it’s growing, adapting, and playing a critical role in improving the physical and mental well-being of our communities.”

Exercise New Zealand encourages all New Zealanders to seek support from registered, qualified exercise professionals to ensure safe, effective, and sustainable progress toward their health goals. For more information on this release or to arrange an interview, contact Richard Beddie at richard@exercisenz.org.nz or P: 0800 66 88 11, M: 027-520-5744.

Note: Data was collected through an independent third party, Horizon Research, as a part of ExerciseNZ annual consumer research.