In Whangārei, a kaupapa is taking shape that goes far beyond fitness.

The Movement Collective is a Māori-owned gym founded by Journee Houston and John Paul (JP) Ogden, built on a simple but powerful whakaaro: when we strengthen hauora, we strengthen our people.

What started as an idea is quickly becoming a strong, safe community people want to be part of, built in the middle of real life, with JP in his third year of nursing and Journee running a forestry business.

At its core, The Movement Collective is about unity. It is a space where people encourage one another, push together, and move as a collective toward better health.

This isn’t your typical gym, it’s a space where people feel supported, connected, and motivated to keep showing up.

A range of classes for all levels, whether you’re just starting out or already training consistently.

For Journee, hauora is not something that should feel like a chore.

“Hauora is critical to our existence, but it’s easily neglected, especially for our people. At TMC, we make it part of who you are.”

Like many pakihi Māori journeys, the path has not been without challenges. Journee speaks openly about overcoming self-doubt, particularly as someone without formal qualifications in the fitness industry. Financial constraints have also been a reality.

But rather than waiting for perfect conditions, they chose to build anyway.

This has been built around work, study, and everything else life throws at you, not instead of it.

What they have created is more than a gym. It is a community.

What started as an idea is quickly becoming a strong, safe community people want to be part of.

“The thing I’m most proud of is the strong community that has come together to make TMC possible. Everyone wants the best for each other.”

That sense of collective ownership is what sets The Movement Collective apart. It reflects a deeper truth about Māori entrepreneurship: success is not just individual, it is shared.

For those starting their own pakihi, Journee offers grounded advice:

“Don’t be scared to fail. It’s only temporary. Learn from it, fix it, and keep going. It’s ruthless some days, but stay consistent and true to you.”

The Movement Collective is a reminder of what is possible when kaupapa, community and courage come together.