Whakatāne Boxing Gym opened its doors in Whakatāne on Monday, marking the realisation of a long-held vision for owner Taina Pokai.

Pokai said owning a gym had always been his dream, although he had thought it was something he would likely do when he was older.

“This was my retirement plan – not that I wanted to do it later in life; I just didn’t see myself doing it so soon,” he said.

Pokai started running boxing classes earlier this year above the Rockpit Gym and said having his own space was the next step.

With plenty of community support, he and wife Laina worked hard to transform a space on the corner of Commerce and Merritt streets, formerly occupied by NZ Windows, in just three weeks.

The couple wanted to create something positive for the community while setting a good example for their three children.

“This is what I love doing,” Pokai said. “I absolutely love helping people overcome things in their life, teaching people how to do boxing, teaching people leadership, resilience and all the good stuff,” he said.

The gym offers classes for differing ages and abilities, including conditioning, fundamentals, lunchtime Hit Up sessions and classes for children aged five to eight and nine to 12.

There is also a fight camp for people who want to work towards sparring or eventually competing in a boxing match.

Pokai said people did not have to be already fit or experienced to give boxing a go.

“All of these classes are just open for anyone that wants to learn; you don’t have to be a set weight or a set fitness level to be able to do it. All you have to do is walk through them doors, come and have a go.”

Membership options include casual visits, a kids flexi membership, adult 12-month and six-month memberships and an adult flexi option.

Pokai said the gym also encouraged whānau to box together, with family membership options available through a conversation with him or his wife.

The gym is equipped with a boxing ring and punching bags.

Gloves are available for people to use but Pokai said he encouraged regular members to eventually get their own gloves.

Pokai said the gym was about more than just learning how to box.

His goal was to create an environment where people had high morale, respected each other’s boundaries and felt safe enough to learn.

“I normally say it in conversation when I talk to people; if you want to do boxing but you’re scared or anxious or shy or nervous, the best thing to do is come in and have a go,” he said. “You will not regret it.”

Pokai said boxing had helped shape who he was and taught him that he could do difficult things.

His message to anyone considering giving it a go is simple.

“All you have to do is show up. If you don’t like it, then you try something else. If you do like it, awesome. You can carry on.

“Keep training, keep learning, keep growing.”

Getting the gym ready in a short time frame was a joint effort.

Pokair said one of the gym’s coaches, Storm, helped with much of the plastering and painting, while another fighter, Robbie, helped with building work and supplied materials.

Other people helped by bringing trailers and scaffolding to the site.

“It’s just amazing. It’s absolutely amazing, you know? Like how people were just willing to help grow something,” Pokai said.

He is grateful to his wife who he said took on many of the behind-the-scenes jobs, turning herself from a nurse into an accountant and a lawyer while helping get the business running.

Pokai said the gym was already receiving strong community support, and he was grateful to everyone who had helped make the dream a reality.

“To be an established boxing gym in a small town like this and to have the support of the community that we’ve hit, that’s huge for us.

“We’re very grateful,” he said.