The world’s fastest-growing mental health and fitness event, The Push-Up Challenge, is launching in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2026, with registrations open now.
From 5-27 February, people from all around the motu will push for better mental health, by completing 2,000 push-ups, reflecting the number of people who die by suicide each day, globally.
Founder and CEO of The Push-Up Challenge, Nick Hudson, says,
The Push-Up Challenge is a fun and accessible way to improve your fitness, learn about mental health and connect with friends, family and community, all while honouring the lives tragically lost to suicide.
The Push-Up Challenge is a free event, with participants of all ages and abilities completing 2,000 push-ups over 23 days, while learning about mental health, with the number of daily push-ups changing to reflect a vital mental health fact.
Participants can also choose to fundraise to support the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand (the MHF).
“Mental health challenges will affect nearly everyone at some point in their lives,” says MHF chief executive Shaun Robinson. “The funds raised through the Challenge will have a huge impact, by supporting our mahi helping people better understand what they or someone they care about, may be going through, and to find hope and a way forward.” He says as well as the impact of the funds raised, the Challenge promises a wellbeing boost to everyone who takes part:
The Push-Up Challenge hits on so many of those simple, daily things we can all do to lift our wellbeing – connection with mates or work colleagues, being physically active, and learning new things, like education around mental health and wellbeing.
If completing 2,000 push-ups feels out of reach, participants can choose exercise alternatives such as sit-ups, squats or tailored exercises, with progress tracked through a dedicated app.
The Push-Up Challenge has run in Australia for nine years, and in Canada for two and has seen more than one million participants complete over one billion push-ups, raising over $67 million NZD for mental health.
Aotearoa is Australia’s closest neighbour, and we’ve already had many New Zealanders take part in the Australian event, so it only makes sense to take our beloved Challenge across the ditch, adds Nick Hudson.
A 2024 study by The University of Melbourne found that The Push-Up Challenge has significant behavioural change on its participants, with them experiencing significant improvements in mental wellbeing, resilience and social connection following the Challenge. For example, participants who reported experiencing a mental health challenge were over twice as likely to seek help (including help from a health professional, family member, friend, digital support group or by taking medication), and over three times as likely to adopt self-care strategies such as doing more exercise, spending time in nature, connecting with a friend or family member or spending time with a pet.
The Mental Health Foundation’s Shaun Robinson says these are the benefits he’s excited to see as Aotearoa takes on The Push-Up Challenge:
The more kōrero we can get happening in workplaces, schools and gyms as people talk about why they’re doing 2,000 push-ups in February, the more we break down the stigma around mental distress so people feel more comfortable asking for help if they need it.
You can register for The Push-Up Challenge as an individual, team, or get your whole workplace, club, gym or school involved at www.thepushupchallenge.co.nz
