25/10/2025
I’ve given a lot of menopause talks in many different places – but never at a Marae before.
So it was really special to be invited to one in Rotorua recently to speak about the role of HRT in supporting women through perimenopause and menopause.
The event was part of a programme organised by Priscilla Te Hau. She is the creator of Te Ohomauri Innovations and the TOI Wāhine Framework – an incredible kaupapa designed to empower wāhine (women) through their ruahinetanga (menopause) by revitalising Māori and Indigenous practices.
Having a strong cultural and spiritual connection can play such a powerful role in supporting women through this stage of life.
In the western world, we are not good at celebrating women’s biology – especially menopause.
But traditional Māori culture has a very different perspective: one that honours this phase as a time of growth, wisdom, and transition.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all view menopause this way?
There is much we can learn from each other.
The medical world can learn from the deep respect, connection, and spirituality within Māori traditions.
And we can share medical knowledge and tools, like HRT, so that all women have access to every option available.
At the moment though, that’s not the reality.
Māori women seeking help with their menopause symptoms are significantly more likely to be prescribed non-hormonal medications like antidepressants or sleeping pills, instead of being offered HRT, when compared to non-Māori women
(source here: https://vist.ly/4braw )
That’s not good enough.
Because every woman deserves to understand ALL her options – cultural, spiritual, and medical – so she can choose the path that gives her the best menopause possible.
To read more about the TOI Wāhine Framework and the amazing work that Priscilla is doing, see the link below:
https://vist.ly/4brax
