Get energised and change lives
UNIREC Centre is more than a hub for fitness and recreation. It is a place that focuses on changing lives and giving energy to the community. Journalism student Elton Lonaratha Jnr visited the centre over the weekend to discover the amazing work of staff and find out the positive feedback from members.
The UniRec centre, located on the Waikato University campus, is known for its wide range of fitness and sporting facilities for students, staff, and the local community.
A member in speed mode at the Treadmill-PHOTO ELTON LONARATHA JNR
It serves as a central hub designed to help members achieve their fitness and wellbeing goals in a fun and welcoming environment.
Clayton Tutaki-Roinee is one of the longest serving staff at the centre. He engages with the senior users most of the time because he is the most experienced member of the Customer Service team, having worked at the centre for almost 25 years.
He said the environment at the centre is always filled with energy, especially when he is involved with the senior members.
Clayton serving a member at the front desk-PHOTO ELTON LONARATHA JNR
“Some of them are by themselves, so the program offers a good socialising group, and we do lots of stuff together.
Tutaki-Roinee added that the centre not only focuses on fitness but can changes lives for members who may be lonely, and through discovering different energy and health levels for members who are lonely.
Paul Micheal Meresi is one of the senior members who often goes to the centre. The 61-year-old exercises twice a week and said the centre was his temple for the past 18 years.
“For me, exercise is like meditation. I like to just go and relax and do my own thing. I don’t want to be in a lot of noise and a lot of people jumping up and down.
“It’s where I go to kind of pray or just be with myself, and it makes me feel better.”
He said the best word to describe the environment is ‘chilled’, because he felt comfortable in the surrounding atmosphere.
Piseth Sem, also known as Kai, is one of the latest members who is horning his basketball skills at the Centre’s 825sqm Multi Sports Hall.
Kai enjoying his session-PHOTO ELTON LONARATHA JNR
The 19-year-old from Cambodia is doing Business studies at Waikato University.
Despite facing a tight schedule in his studies, the motivation he gains from his first session at the centre gives him the time and space he needs.
Kai described the environment at the centre as ‘amazing’ because of the different types of equipment set up for members and the positivity.
“The environment here is great because people are friendly with no judgment.”
Piseth Sem (Kai)
Kai in action at the basketball court-PHOTO ELTON LONARATHA JNR
He said he felt motivated as soon as he entered the facility and this pushed him to attend all his workouts six days a week.
UniRec centre is located at the University of Waikato campus, Knighton Road, in Hillcrest.
It can be accessed by purchasing memberships or casual passes online.
The facility includes a gym, fitness classes, and a sports hall with opening hours from 6AM to 10PM in the weekdays, and 7AM to 7PM during the weekends.
Link: https://www.unirec.co.nz/
Elton Lonaratha is a Manaaki scholar from the Solomon Islands studying the Diploma in Journalism. This is his first story for the Waikato Independent.
