Widely regarded as the “Godfather of NZ MMA”, Steven Oliver decided to make a stand and not comply with the government segregation mandates. He has become the first victim of the government’s COVID-19 powers over the private sector.
Mr Oliver has been instrumental in the physical and mental health of many New Zealanders over the years, and tonight he will be appearing on the Talanoa Sa’o show to discuss what has been happening in the current environment.
This is Steven Oliver’s statement to New Zealand:
“Hey guys,
We know everyone will be busy wrapping Christmas presents the next few days, but we wanted to quickly drop a line and let everyone know how we are getting on.
As you all know, Oliver MMA’s Mission Statement (proudly displayed on our wall):
“We will teach our students excellence through Martial Arts, we will help them build the strength the knowledge and courage to achieve their goals on and off the mats.
We have always and will continue to strive to be a world class team, competing around the world at the highest level.
We will always promote a family friendly environment that welcomes and encourages anyone who wishes to train with us.”
This is our mission, and it hasn’t changed.
I have travelled around the world and have bled in every continent learning a martial art that I could bring home to New Zealand and share.
My dad, Olympian, Don Oliver was one of the pioneers in New Zealand for the gym and fitness industry, alongside legends like Les Mills.
Our family history in the gym industry has been alive since the 70’s – half a century we have been training people and working from early hours of the morning until the late hours in the night helping people in the community.
If anyone knows our family, you know that the extent that we care about our members doesn’t stop at the door, we are there when you go through tough times to help you up, and we are there to celebrate you in your achievements when you are on top.
We have taken people into our homes, we have looked after people when they’ve been sick – we’ve done more work in the local community over the last 50 years than any one of those politicians sitting in Wellington, who are telling us we are now a danger to our community by opening our doors to unvaccinated people.
We were told back in 2019 that the vaccine wouldn’t be compulsory, not only it wouldn’t be mandatory, that there would be NO consequences if it didn’t feel right for us to have the vaccine.
Now after 3 generations of community work, I’m being fined $12,000 every day I’m open, for not turning kids away that have no where else to go. For not turning away adults, many whom are on the edge of suicide because of these mandates – because they won’t have an experimental vaccine.
So we are very clear, we are pro choice and are not anti vaccination. Our kids have received vaccinations, we have received vaccinations – but we have observed our right under the Human Rights Act to have bodily autonomy, to have the right to choose what medical procedures we undergo – and that should always be without segregation or exclusion from society.
One of our foundation principles of our club for generations has been zero tolerance for bullying and zero tolerance of any form of discrimination and we are not changing that now because our government has decided they want us to do their dirty work.
Everyone is welcome at our gym, as long as we are in charge of Oliver MMA – this is how it will stay.
Have a great Christmas whanau, enjoy time with your family, forget the craziness of the world and have a great time with those people that you hold dear to you.
On the flip side of that, if you know of anyone that isn’t having such a great Christmas, that may need some help or support – as usual, please reach out to us, because as a community (and our community is the best community) if we all help a little, it may mean the world.
Love you guys 
Our last day is tomorrow before we break for Christmas, in the new year we will be restructuring things slightly – but we will commence back on Jan 8th.
Love Steve, Krissy and the kids x
https://www.facebook.com/olivermmahq/videos/631969684519957
Imagery and Video from Oliver MMA HQ here.
