The team of NZ Elements

Visit Central New Zealand

Hamurana Lodge & Ahuru Lodge team up to offer you the ultimate discovery experience.

Indoor Climbing

Indoor Rock Climbing - More Than a Total Body Workout

The Team

Yoga/Pilates

Márta Sik

She will help you to feel relaxed, energised and balanced throughout the week. Born in Hungary, where she qualified as a fitness instructor and worked in the sport & wellness industry for many years teaching high interval and cardio classes. Being a challenge seeker, she competed in kayaking and kick-boxing.

After moving to New Zealand, inner peace and calmness became more important for her. She found herself helping others to find their internal strength through yoga, Pilates and meditation.

Nurturing is also a major part of her life. She is trained in different healing and massages techniques as Shiatsu, Reiki, Kinesiology, Acupressure, and a healing technique called Ma-uri bodywork.

Alex Sogno

Alex Sogno, Director of NZ Elements

Alex began his career in New York City after graduating with honors at Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland. Alex established a number of business ventures, initially focusing on hospitality and real estate valuation. He joined HVS International New York, and he established a new venture at the Cushman & Wakefield headquarters in Manhattan.

In 2005, Alex began working for Kingdom Hotel Investments, founded by HRH Prince Al-Walid bin Talal, and was employed to asset manage a large portfolio of luxury, full-service hotels in 21 countries in Europe, The Middle East, Africa and Asia. In 2007, Alex founded Global Asset Solution, which provides expert oversight and asset management in the hospitality industry. Hamurana Lodge marked the beginning of the hotel management company within the Global Asset Solution group.

After 10 stressful yet very successful years, Alex rediscovered his passion for the outdoors, sports, and team spirit when he met Anika Schwenker and Carl Massy from Bali Elements. Inspired by this amazing holistic fitness adventure and with their help, he decided to create the same concept in New Zealand. He has since been developing the idea of this fun and a little bit mad fitness retreat, redefining it with each new experience and his genuine passion for New Zealand.

Fred Novella

Fred Novella, Director of NZ Elements

Fred began his career in New Zealand with Thai Airways International as Airline Traffic Controller. This experience led him to New Caledonia, where he managed the entire Air New Zealand operation. Fred returned to New Zealand in 2000, this time to invest in a hotel joint venture in Rotorua. While maintaining and supervising his assets, Fred was appointed Hotel Operation & Residential Marketing Manager for Quest Apartment Hotel Group.

In 2004, Fred's entrepreneurial leadership led him to the opening of a Middle East airline. The Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways went from 5 to 37 aircrafts during his time there. These roles enabled him to work very closely with many nationalities and develop his ability to work with diverse cultures. Fred's experience and skills gained led to the formation of Global Asset Solution. Hamurana Lodge management was a natural step when the opportunity came to form the hotel management in New Zealand.

Whilst living in Bali, he trained very hard on the beach every morning with the Bali Elements team, meeting many amazing individuals from so many different backgrounds. The interaction within the group, the challenges, the rewards, the team spirit... These are all the reasons why Fred wanted to re-create this crazy fitness adventure in New Zealand.

---> In addition to this team we hire professional local Kiwi instructors for every activity we include in the schedule of the NZ Elements Week. If you would like to have a sample itinerary of a particular week and the details of the instructors please make a request.