Who we are
Surgical Menopause New Zealand Trust (SMNZT) is led by a small, passionate team of volunteers, most of whom are living with surgical menopause themselves. People join and step back as capacity allows. We continue to build slowly with limited resources, whilst also managing our own health. We are women with lived experience, working together with heart, care and determination to create something that didn’t exist before.
Our story
Surgical menopause is often misunderstood, surrounded by conflicting advice, medical jargon, and silence. Our founder, Emilie, experienced this firsthand, facing a lack of support and information after her own surgery.
Determined to change that, she started Surgical Menopause NZ as an online support group in July 2022 with the help of Rachelle. Two years later, the initiative became a registered charity under the name Surgical Menopause New Zealand Trust (CC62381).
What we do
We exist to make the journey through surgical menopause clearer, kinder, and better informed. We do this through three core activities: providing evidence-based resources tailored to the New Zealand context, building peer community so no woman navigates this in isolation, and advocating for better recognition, care, and outcomes for wāhine in surgical menopause.
We collaborate with healthcare professionals but we are not a medical organisation. We centre lived experience and advocate for informed, individualised care.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
— Margaret Mead
Want to Help?
As a small organisation, we rely on people who are willing to share their time, skills, or support. Whether you can help with one task or want to be more involved, we’d love to hear from you.
Surgical Menopause New Zealand Trust 