There were many things that Johno Winther couldn't do before undergoing a huge lifestyle change and losing 17kg.

He couldn't run 10 kilometres or play with his seven-year-old son for as long as he wanted.

But Mr Winther says he's a different man after losing the weight through the Te Hekenga Nui fitness programme.

He's full of energy and about to run his first half marathon with people he's met on the course.

The Waipareira Trust runs Te Hekenga Nui, modelled on the American television show The Biggest Loser, and it's free for west Aucklanders to join.

Training with Delane Mackie

Mr Winther is a social worker for the Waipareira Trust and decided to jump on board as soon he heard about the 16-week programme.

"I'd done stints at the gym like everyone else but this was something completely different," the Te Atatu Peninsula resident says.

"It's so high intensity and high impact. After the first week of doing it I was ready to throw the whole thing in."

But he hung in there along with more than 30 others to complete the programme. They met five times a week, training for around an hour each time and together lost a combined amount of 150kg.

Mr Winther, who lost the most weight, says it gave him much more than a reduced waistline.

"My energy levels have sky rocketed and I'm so much more alert at work and for my wife and kids," he says.

"I've got so much energy that I want to stay outside and play with my seven-year-old son longer than he does."

Mr Winther credits group training to their success.

"That was probably one of the biggest motivators because we're all changing our schedules and balancing our lives around this course but we're doing it together."

Mr Winther appreciated the way the course was run by health promoter and personal trainer Delane Mackie.

"It was set around streets, mountains and beaches in west Auckland and there was never any need to wear fancy clothes like you see at the gym," he says.

Mr Mackie says west Aucklanders need to forget their age, size, work schedule or any other reasons for not exercising.

The course is designed so people of any size or age can participate.

"If there's an exercise that only one person in the group can't do we're not doing it. No one gets left behind," Mr Mackie says.

"The main focus I gave the group was that they were exercising to make them better mums and dads, better colleagues and better friends.

It's about the way you feel from exercising, that energy and positivity."

To train with Mr Mackie turn up at the Trusts Stadium at 5.30pm on Mondays or at 6am on Wednesdays. The sessions will now run twice a week.

Call Mr Mackie on 021-246-2052 for more details.

Training with Delane Mackie.

With a combined weight loss of 150kg, more than 30 contestants trained for 16 weeks – competing to make a lifestyle change with Te Hekenga Nui – a fitness programme offered by Waipareira.

Similar to America's 'Biggest Loser' – Te Hekenga Nui involves a high intensity training regime, healthy diet and support from a personal trainer.

The programme is part of the Kai Nutrition course delivered by Delane Mackie – Health Promoter and Personal Trainer for Te Whanau o Waipareira Trust in Henderson.

“The aim is to promote healthy lifestyles the best way possible - to lose some pounds while enhancing our wellbeing in a competitive environment,” Mr Mackie said.

Families gathered on Saturday to celebrate the inaugural graduation for Te Hekenga Nui contenders.

Te Hekenga Nui Champion Jonathan Winther and Personal Trainer Delane Mackie

Mr Mackie said the programme is not just about losing weight.

“It is about how exercise makes us feel,” he explains.

Jonathan Winther was announced as Te Hekenga Nui's champion after losing a total of 19.5kg since his first weigh-in 16 weeks ago.

“When I first started it was because I wanted to lose weight. But over time I began to notice a difference in myself – physically and mentally. I have so much energy and I've never felt this good in my life. My attitude has changed and my ultimate goal is to be healthy – for my wife and my sons,” Mr Winther said.

The contestants are between 11 and 60 years of age who trained together 5 days a week.

Mr Winther said they have all become one big whanau.

“The team support is motivating and helps me to go beyond my own limitations. We encourage one another to get up in the morning and try to help each other out by carpooling to training,” he says.

Jonathan Winther and Mai FM's Nickson Clark

The programme involves high intensity workouts including sprinting up and down Bethells' sand dunes, Piha maunga and the steepest hills found in West Auckland.

“High intensity workouts produce more results than your average low intensity exercises such as aerobics and walking. The aim is to push your heart rate up to 75% of its maximum as it increases metabolism and burns more calories,” explains Mr Mackie.

The contestants will continue their goal to becoming models for lifestyle as they plan to compete in the Kerikeri Half Marathon in November.

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Prime Minister John Key and Hon Dr Pita Sharples

The official opening for Waipareira’s Whanau Centre was opened by Prime Minister John Key and Hon Dr Pita Sharples on Wednesday 24 August.

The event started with a karakia and a spectacular performance by Te Whakatipu Kakano Kapa haka group from Ranui.

Prime Minister John Key acknowledged Minister Tariana Turia’s work in initiating Whanau Ora and passed on her sincerest apologies as she could not make the event.

Whanau Centre is a one-stop frontline Whanau Ora hub integrating health, social, justice and education services.

Te Whanau O Waipareira is offering families ‘wrap-around’ services tailored to their needs at the new Whanau Centre – a five -storey complex in the central business district of Henderson. Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples said the community has worked hard and long on this and feels happy that his community has the Whanau Centre available to them. "This is significant for me and that’s why I am here," Minister Pita says.

Whanau Centre has five levels where families can access more than 70 services. These include primary health care in the GP clinic, dental and pharmacy as well as a range of ‘secondary services’ offered by the Waitemata District Health Board which is locating specialists’ services closer to whanau and the west Auckland community.

The Whanau Centre will also be the corporate offices of the Waitemata PHO West Locality and the National Urban Maori Authority known as NUMA.

NUMA is the parent body for the Whanau Ora provider collective that includes Otangarei Trust (Whangarei); Te Whanau o Waipareira Trust (West Auckland); Manukau Urban Maori Authority (South Auckland); Te Runanga o Kirikiriroa (Waikato) with approved affiliate Te Kohao Health; Te Roopu Awhina ki Porirua (Wellington); and Te Runanga o Nga Maata Waka (Christchurch).