Member Spotlight – Kanifit with Puna

How Puna Wano Bryant is moving people through Kanifit

For Puna Wano Bryant, fitness is about whānau, culture, music, connection and creating a safe space where people can simply be themselves. 

Raised in a sporting whānau, Puna grew up with the expectation that being active was part of life – not just for physical wellbeing, but as a way of connecting with people and community. Alongside sport, music and kapa haka were foundational. 

“Kapa haka was the tūāpapa,” she says. “It taught me to understand the whakapapa of music, where it comes from and how movement can express and honour it.” 

That connection between music and movement has shaped Puna’s approach throughout her 16 years as a group fitness instructor. After qualifying as a Zumba instructor in 2010, she continued to train with international instructors across different dance genres, including salsa, cumbia, reggaeton, merengue, Afrobeats, HIIT, bachata, kizomba, hip hop and many more! 

For Puna, respecting those genres is essential. 

“I don’t teach what I haven’t been taught. I learn from an expert in a formal training environment first.”

That careful and respectful approach led to the creation of Kanifit Dance Movement with Puna around five years ago – her own expression of Latino, World and Aotearoa dance movement and rhythms. 

Inspired by Alejandro Angulo the creator of Salsation who encouraged her to use what she had and create something of her own, Puna embraced her own mana motuhake. Her tohu is the Tino Rangatiratanga flag – in bright pink, naturally. 

At the heart of Kanifit is manaakitanga. Puna knows many people walk into their first class feeling nervous or overwhelmed. Some arrive apologising for being “unco”; others have been “dragged along” by a friend. 

Her response is simple: there is no such thing as getting it wrong. “We call them accidental solos.” 

The classes are deliberately judgment-free. Rather than putting herself at the centre, Puna uses movement and music to help people reconnect with and value themselves. 

“The student is the star. Not the instructor. We have the privilege of holding the light for them to step into.” 

For Puna, that is where fitness becomes something deeper – body sovereignty, accountability and hauora. She wants people to leave feeling freer, more confident and empowered to keep moving. 

Her philosophy extends to the wider fitness community. Puna is strongly anti-competitive, believing there is room in the fitness industry for everyone to share students and knowledge. She has shared her own expertise with numerous Taranaki instructors as a part of Team Azucar founded by Puna in 2013. 

She encourages instructors to share the light, connect, collaborate and refer students to classes that might suit them better. For her, that is whanaungatanga in action. 

“Korikori tonu / Keep moving” is one of her catchphrases – and it captures the bigger purpose behind Kanifit. Longevity isn’t just about keeping a business going; it is about helping people keep moving throughout their lives. 

That kaupapa is reflected in the practical way Puna runs her business. She keeps things simple, protects her customers’ privacy, pays artists for their music and makes sure the fundamentals of running a safe class as a fitness professional are in place. 

She also sees her role as one of influence and responsibility. “You get to be a witness to people’s lives for a period of time.” 

After 16 years, some students have become long-term friends, while others come and go through different seasons of life. Puna values being able to witness those journeys – the laughter, the challenges and those moments when someone finally lets go and finds their freedom. 

Alongside Kanifit, Puna is a General Manager at Parininihi ki Waitōtara, Co-Chair of Tui Ora Limited and proudly invested in Te Whare Tūranga Kōrero o Taranaki Iwi. She continues to use her passion for social justice and legal skills while contributing to the kaupapa of oranga whenua and the wider Māori business community. 

For Puna, learning never stops.

“Education is forever. I believe in honouring the whakapapa of dance by seeking insight from those who hold and share its knowledge. Next week I travel to Auckland to spend time with my friend and mentor, Marlex Pagalunan, a Zumba choreographer. Although I don’t teach Zumba, I remain connected to the community and grateful for the influence it continues to have on my journey.” 

And whether she is leading a class, supporting her community or encouraging someone to take that first step onto the dance floor, her message remains the same: 

“Korikori tonu – Keep on Moving.” 

MONDAYS 6-7pm – KANIFIT DANCE FITNESS

A dance‑fitness class designed for freedom, flow, and expressive movement.

THURSDAYS 6-7pm – KANIFIT FIRE UP

A high‑energy dance fitness class focused on building power, strength, and confidence.

33 Currie Street, New Plymouth

$5 Casual, Monthly Subscriptions Available

REGISTER HERE   https://forms.gle/sqz7NNh7vDjxGLEZ8