Mapack, a 15-strong team of certified Zumba instructors from Auckland believes that Zumba is fun personified.

Formed from a combination of people from Manurewa, Papakura and Christ of King (Mt Roskill) in Auckland, New Zealand, the team was in Rarotonga for more than a week to spread the joy of taking part in Zumba.

The team consists of a diverse bunch of people with mixed origins who all call Auckland their home.

It includes five Cook Islanders - Jazimine Jessie Maramatoa, Fanaura Mitchell, Dennis Daniela, Isaac Rangi Isaaka Tutai and Tetua Singh (daughter of Rangi Isaaka Tutai) – as well as three Maori, Marlene Kinigi, Lexie Jacobs and Felicity Whare, Tongans Sally Rowntree and Addy Tavea, Samoans Ana Silva and John Tavea, Kiwi Mary Frankovich, Sri Lankan- Nim Senanayake and Fiji-Indian Nav Singh.

The group came together because of their shared interest in Zumba but the brainchild behind the group was Mitchell.

“We are all stuck together now, in a good way of course,” said Mitchell.

This was the group’s first Zumba tour in Cook Islands and they loved every minute of it. They conducted fundraisers for Creative Centre, Nukuture College and Franky’s Zumba classes.

“The purpose of this trip was to have fun and give back to the community at the same time,” said Nav Singh

“This trip has been amazing. The weather, the food, the people, the bikes, jandals, clubbing, clubbing in jandals, conducting a flash mob at the airport. It has been great,” said Frankovich.

The group also took local Zumba instructor Franky’s classes and whatever funds they raised were given back to the classes.

The group’s love of Zumba extends beyond the classes. Ranging from the ages of 26 to 67, they all believe that age and size does not matter. Zumba for them is considered to be a family affair.

“We work, we are professionals, we are Mums, we play sports, we all come from different backgrounds and age and size does not matter to us. Our children also take part in Zumba,” says Whare.

They teach pre-schoolers, primary school, college and the elderly and for the group it is a way of life.

“Zumba is fitness in disguise. It is spiritual because we always start and end our classes with a prayer.”

“It is also like therapy, a place where you can work out all your pent up aggression and it’s healing. We cater to a wide variety of fitness levels so no one feels left out.”

Mapack enjoyed their stay here immensely, said Nav Singh, and they would like to thank the people who made their stay a pleasant one.

“We would like to thank Air Raro, Te Vaera Nui, Raro Tours, Francis Browne (Franky), Creative Centre, Nukutere College, Issaka Tutai and Tanga Tairea. You made our trip a fun, exciting event,” said Tetua Singh.

For your nearest adrenalin-pumping, fun-filled Zumba workout, contact Francis Browne (Franky) on 24895.

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