Exercise providers from across Canterbury, South Canterbury and the West Coast have come together at Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre for a regional Live Stronger for Longer Conference, focusing on connection, learning, and shared practice.

Around 70 providers travelled from as far as the West Coast, South Canterbury, and Kaikōura to participate in the event on Saturday, which aimed to strengthen relationships across the network and support the ongoing delivery of strength and balance classes for older adults.

Live Stronger for Longer is a nationwide programme that supports community-based exercise classes designed to help older people stay active, maintain independence and reduce the risk of falls. The programme is delivered by trained providers in local communities, with a strong emphasis on safe, effective and accessible physical activity.

“We thought it’d be a great opportunity to bring everyone together and get as many of our exercise providers in one place,” says Lily Purdon, Sport Canterbury’s Strength and Balance Project Leader.

One of the main goals of the day was to facilitate networking, allowing providers to connect, establish new relationships and learn about others who offer similar classes. For many, it was the first opportunity to connect in person with colleagues from outside their immediate area.

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Alongside networking, the conference included education and upskilling sessions designed to support providers in their roles. These sessions aimed to build on the work already underway in communities, offering additional knowledge and ideas that could be applied in local classes.

Participants discussed the value of sharing ideas about teaching, class structure and what works well in various contexts. The group environment allowed for open discussion and collective learning.

For BodyFix Gym owner Moana Williams, the conference was also an opportunity to give back by sharing her own knowledge and insights with others in the network.

“This is such an awesome way for people to connect,” she says. “As a group, we’ve been able to share ideas around teaching, around how our classes work, which I think is just gold and it’s really nice to be able to come into a group environment.”

The event highlighted the importance of connection within the Live Stronger for Longer network, particularly for providers working in smaller or more remote communities.

Purdon says the conference demonstrated the value of investing in the people delivering Live Stronger for Longer on the ground, ensuring they feel supported, connected and well-equipped to continue their work.

Article added: Monday, March 9, 2026