Active Wāhine was created to provide a supportive, girls-only fitness environment where young women can grow strong, build confidence, and feel empowered. But programs like this don’t thrive on structure alone — they thrive because of the young women who champion them.

Samantha Stevens, from Rangiora High School, is one of those students.

Not only has she flourished within Active Wāhine, but she has also transformed the program itself through her initiative, leadership, and commitment to helping other girls feel confident in a fitness setting.

A Program That Welcomes and Empowers

From her first session, Samantha found Active Wāhine to be the kind of environment many girls wish for but rarely experience.

“The sessions are welcoming, supportive, and make going to the gym feel a lot less intimidating. It’s been a great environment to learn and grow in.”

This supportive foundation gave her the confidence to show up consistently — and eventually, to inspire others to join her.

Samantha’s Role: Leading the Way for Rangiora Girls

Samantha’s impact reaches far beyond her own participation.She has been an integral part of Active Wāhine’s growth and success.

• She encouraged her friends to come along.
• She advocated for the program within the school.
• She took initiative to spread the word and reduce the stigma or intimidation girls often feel toward fitness spaces.

This term, through her student-led efforts, nearly 50 girls from Years 9–13 signed up —a milestone that no student has ever achieved before.

This level of engagement isn’t accidental.It reflects Samantha’s leadership, influence, and genuine belief in the power of a safe, girls-only fitness environment.

Without Samantha’s dedication, advocacy, and peer influence, this program would not have reached the level of success it sees today.

Strength, Confidence, and Progress

Inside the gym, Samantha continued to grow — physically and mentally.

“I’ve really enjoyed being able to complete a workout and feel confident afterwards… each week you push us to try heavier weights, because it shows that we're growing each time.”

Feeling stronger led to feeling more capable. Feeling more capable led to feeling more confident.

“It has definitely improved my confidence and motivation… I feel more comfortable in the gym and more motivated to stay active regularly.”

Active Wāhine didn’t just help her build fitness — it helped her build a lifestyle.

The Importance of a Girls-Only Environment

For Samantha, the impact of a girls-only space was profound:

“It feels less intimidating and more supportive. It allows me to focus on myself and feel more comfortable participating fully.”

She also appreciated coaching tailored specifically to girls:

“The coach can tailor her instructions and tips to just girls — as men and women have different physiques.”

This environment is exactly why so many girls feel safe enough to join when someone like Samantha leads the way.

Honouring the Girls Who Paved the Way

Before Samantha stepped into this leadership role, other young women laid the foundation by showing up, supporting each other, and proving that there was a need for a program like this.

Their courage helped Active Wāhine survive long enough for leaders like Samantha to help it grow.

We acknowledge and thank the girls who championed this space in its early days — their role was crucial in ensuring the program continued to exist for future generations of wāhine.

Looking Forward

Samantha hopes for continued development in the program:

“More variety in workouts and maybe some goal-setting or progress tracking to help us stay motivated and see how far we’ve come.”

Her vision reflects the direction Active Wāhine strives for — a space where girls not only show up, but thrive, progress, and feel proud of how far they’ve come.

Samantha’s journey is more than a personal success story — it’s proof of what happens when young women are supported, empowered, and given a safe environment to develop confidence.

Her leadership has directly shaped the future of Active Wāhine and created opportunities for nearly 50 other girls to feel strong, capable, and confident too.

Programs like this don’t just uplift individuals —they uplift entire communities of young women.

Article added: Tuesday 24 March 2026