For Monique, an inventory controller, the Moveathon was a chance to step out from behind her desk and get fit.
At the beginning, she could barely run 100 metres.
“I was wheezing and regretting all my life choices,” she jokes.
“I went from 100 metres to 200, then to 400, and signed up for a three-kilometre run. I finished it, even though I felt like being sick at the end.”
Since then, she has kept up the running and has lost 35 kilograms.
Monique didn’t expect her improved physical health to also boost her mental health and wellbeing.
“I had some issues last year,” she recalls.
“I felt myself sinking into bad anxiety, but when I started running, it cleared my mind and helped me zone out and gather my thoughts.”
Culture change
Monique might be Sime Motors’ best example of transformation, but she’s not alone in enjoying the Moveathon’s benefits to her wellbeing.
Nearly 71% of staff taking a company survey reported their mental health had improved since taking part in the 2024 and 2025 Moveathons. 62% of respondents also said their overall health and wellness was ‘better’ or ‘much better’ since participating. [1]
Since the Moveathon, Sime Motors’ staff have been focusing on more than just physical exercise. They’re also prioritising healthy eating, mindfulness, stronger social connections at work, good sleep patterns and taking breaks from their screens.
Sime Motors NZ Head of People Experience, Peter Leathley, says sponsoring the Mental Health Foundation has encouraged employees to focus on their mental and physical wellbeing.
“We have been delighted to see our people gain tangible physical and mental health benefits from the two Moveathon events,” he says.
“We have also benefited from the resources and support delivered by the Mental Health Foundation. These resources and support have helped to build greater awareness around how our people can improve their mental wellbeing on a daily basis.”
There are economic benefits, too. Research by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research shows workplaces can gain $5 in productivity and other benefits for every $1 spent on organisation-wide mental wellbeing initiatives, like those at Sime Motors NZ. [2]
