Les Mills New Zealand is to reopen its health club in Christchurch on 30 March as the city continues to recover from the devastating earthquake which struck more than a year ago.

Although the four-storey, purpose-built facility was a new building and went undamaged in the earthquake, it has been shut due to its proximity to a high-rise hotel being demolished.

Speaking to Health Club Management magazine, club manager Toni McGregor-Tout expressed pride in the new building, which provided a base for emergency services in the aftermath of the disaster.

"If we had been in our old building, it's highly likely that the lives of members and staff would have been lost," said McGregor-Tout.

"We were proud that, because our new building was undamaged, it became a base for police, fire and civil defence for several days after the quake."

McGregor-Tout was speaking to Health Club Management as part of a World Focus looking at how Christchurch's fitness sector is returning to normal after the earthquake.

For more on how the fitness sector is recovering in Christchurch, see Health Club Management March 2012, p66

Details: www.lesmills.co.nz