A mass "bootcamp" has been held at our largest sports stadium to highlight New Zealand's growing obesity problem.
Around 1800 people turned out for a free workout at Eden Park to help spread the message that obesity can be overcome.
"My long-term goal is to be around longer for my boys and yeah, live longer and have a healthy lifestyle," one participant said.
"I walk - that's about it, but probably should be a bit more and yeah, this might be the start of something," another said.
The workout was organised by health and fitness motivator Dave 'Buttabean' Letele.
"New Zealand’s the third obese nation in the world and, I think, the highest youth suicide rate in the developed world, so what we teach is a lifestyle, about being happy - it's not just about weight loss," Mr Letele said.
Mr Letele, who once weighed over 200kgs himself, works mainly in the Pacific community, which has the highest rates of obesity in the country.
"I was so big, now I’ve lost so much weight. I was 126kgs and I went down to 80," a woman said.
More than one million New Zealanders are considered clinically obese, but trainers at the bootcamp said it's all about taking the first step.
"Rather than sitting on the couch at home, rather be out on the field where all the legends have been, you know? The AllBlacks, Blues - all the names," a man said.
Mr Letele believes his motivation movement, which has over 11000 active members, should be rolled out nationally to help stem growing waistlines.
"Hopefully, the council will see this and jump on board for us next year and make it even bigger," he said.
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