Source: Exercise New Zealand
31 August 2026
“When household budgets are tight, investing in your health shouldn’t be the thing that has to go.”
“Last year, around 1,700 Kiwis took advantage of this initiative. This September, we want to help thousands more take that first step.”
“Sometimes people don’t need more motivation, they just need one barrier removed.”
Thousands of New Zealanders could pay 40-70% less for a gym membership this September, as a nationwide initiative that helped around 1,700 Kiwis get into gyms and exercise facilities last year opens its latest allocation of subsidised memberships.
ExerciseNZ’s Subsidised Gym Membership Programme is available through more than 350 participating exercise facilities nationwide and is designed specifically to help people who are not currently gym members overcome one of the most immediate barriers to getting started: cost.
September is the key rollover period where participating facilities receive a fresh allocation of subsidised memberships. Numbers at each facility are limited.
Feedback from people who utilised the initiative in 2025 suggests that reducing the financial barrier can be enough to turn an intention to exercise into action. Testimonials described the subsidy as the prompt they needed to “invest in my health”, a “great opportunity to join a gym in these expensive times”, and an incentive that helped them find a facility, sign up and get started.
ExerciseNZ CEO Richard Beddie says those experiences demonstrate why the programme is particularly relevant while household budgets remain under pressure.
“For a lot of people, motivation isn’t the problem. They want to exercise and they know they’ll feel better for it. But when every dollar counts, a gym membership can be one of the first things people decide they can’t afford.”
“In the last 12 months, around 1,700 people took advantage of this initiative, and we received fantastic feedback. One comment in particular stood out: the discount had prompted them to invest in their health. That really captures what this programme is about, making exercise more affordable so more people can take that first step. This September, we want to give thousands more New Zealanders that same opportunity.”
Cost Is Becoming a Bigger Barrier to Being Active
The programme comes at a time when the latest national data is highlighting the impact affordability is having on participation.
Sport New Zealand’s latest Active NZ 2024/25 report identifies time, cost and confidence as barriers to physical activity and highlights increasing affordability pressures. The report specifically identifies fee subsidies, alongside equipment and transport support, as ways of addressing affordability and access barriers.
Beddie says the findings reinforce why reducing the upfront cost of exercise matters.
“When people are having to make difficult decisions about groceries, power, rent, mortgages and other household costs, paying full price for a gym membership can understandably fall down the priority list.”
“But physical activity isn’t a luxury. It’s one of the most effective things people can do for their physical and mental wellbeing. If cost is the thing preventing someone from getting started, that’s a barrier we should be looking for practical ways to remove.”
From Gym Subsidies to Prevention
The initiative’s rollover period follows ExerciseNZ’s presentation of its Physical Activity and Prevention in Aotearoa New Zealand White Paper to the Government, calling for physical activity and the exercise sector to play a greater role in preventative health.
Beddie says these subsidies demonstrate what removing one practical barrier can look like.
“The subsidy addresses one barrier immediately: cost. The bigger opportunity is ensuring physical activity and prevention become a much more deliberate part of New Zealand’s health strategy.”
“We already have facilities and qualified exercise professionals throughout the country. The opportunity is to make better use of that infrastructure to help people stay healthy before they require more costly health interventions.”
September Subsidies Are Limited
The subsidised memberships are available to people who are new to gyms or have not been a gym member within the past 12 months and have not previously received the subsidy.
- 40-70% off standard gym membership fees
- Available through 350+ participating facilities nationwide
- Around 1,700 New Zealanders accessed the programme in 2025
- Designed for people new to gyms or who have not been a member in the past 12 months
- Available to people who have not previously received the subsidy
- Simple online application and voucher process
- Limited allocations available at individual facilities
Those eligible are encouraged to apply early while September allocations remain available.
To check your eligibility and apply for a subsidised membership, visit ExerciseNZ’s Subsidised Gym Membership Programme.