23/09/2026
Mōrena KK,
Continuing my quest to engage with community leaders, I was lucky enough to grab half an hour of this incredible wahine’s time to discuss her approach to team leadership, system-building and serving our fabulous Kerikeri community.
Most will now recognise the amazing Sam Miller, who has been a team member of Community Fitness Kerikeri for 10 years, and has just passed the 2-year mark of having taken the reigns as Managing Director of the gym. Any client of the gym who has been attending for a little while, will notice the growth which has occurred in huge leaps and bounds since Sam’s appointment, and will feel the unmistakable energy of inclusivity that reverberates within its walls.
Sam’s leadership style is masterful. She recognises that business cannot function without a happy, supported team who feel heard and seen in their mahi. And through all of the intensity of running 2 locations, approx 50 Group Fitness sessions a week, keeping up with 2000 members and working alongside a Board of Trustees as a not-for-profit entity, Sam would never ask a member of her staff to do something that she wouldn’t do herself. This empathetic, resourceful and powerful approach is where the soul of her leadership resonates with me.
So as we continue to see huge upgrades to the gym space and equipment, we also see the fun-loving team of instructors in their element, clients of all shapes and sizes enjoying their workouts in this safe and non-judgmental environment…and all of this reflects the leadership under which they operate.
Congratulations to this incredible woman and this wonderful hub we are lucky to have in our community. And I’ll just confirm that even these fit-as-blimmin’-whaaaaat instructors still eat deep fry 😂
❤️
