Niki Bezzant is a New Zealand writer, journalist and author who has built a reputation for translating complex health and science jargon into easy-to-understand information for everyone over more than 20 years.
A trusted advocate and sought-after speaker on menopause, perimenopause and midlife, Niki is passionate about women’s health, especially empowering midlife women to become vibrant, kick-ass old ladies. She now spends much of her time on menopause education and awareness in workplaces and communities.
Niki’s first, and bestselling, menopause guide This Changes Everything was published by Penguin Random House in 2022, and The Everything Guide: health, hormones and happiness in menopause, midlife and beyond in 2024.
Niki’s career in publishing saw her found and edit Cuisine online, and as founding editor, she took Healthy Food Guide magazine from indie start-up to New Zealand’s top-selling food magazine, a position it held for over a decade. She is a frequent contributor to New Zealand’s top print, online and broadcast media including the NZ Listener and RNZ.
Talking Points
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING: What you need to know about menopause, perimenopause and your midlife health
In this inspiring and empowering talk, Niki shares what she's learned in her years of research into the latest science and Kiwi women's experiences for her bestselling book, This Changes Everything: the honest guide to menopause and perimenopause. THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING: What you need to know about menopause, perimenopause and your midlife health
You'll learn:
Could this be me? How to know if you're in perimenopause (it could be earlier than you think!)
Common symptoms and what to do about them, including flushes, brain fog, mood issues, sleep problems and more
The lowdown on HRT - good or bad? What does the science say?
Menopause myths busted: what works and what doesn't (despite the hype)
Nurturing your health: what to do NOW for a vibrant and healthy second half
Menopause at work: how to have a menopause-friendly workplace
PLUS: your questions answered - no such thing as a silly question!
This talk can be tailored to your group and and event.
Positive Ageing: re-framing menopause and future-proofing your health
Menopause and perimenopause are being talked about more and more. Women - and everyone – are talking about this important life stage; learning about it and sharing their experiences to bring it out of the shadows. What it means to be a woman in menopause has changed from previous generations; GenX women know menopause is not a crisis; it’s not the end of life as we know it! Positive Ageing: re-framing menopause and future-proofing your health
If menopause has changed, so too has ageing. Women are embracing getting and being older in new ways, and challenging old assumptions and gendered ageism.
In this empowering and energising session - which makes a great follow-up to a menopause talk, or can stand alone - I’ll bring together my decades of research and writing about food, exercise and personal health with the very latest, evidence-based expert advice in an informative, practical and fun talk about what it means today to grow older – and the tools we need to feel our best for the rest of our lives.
This talk covers:
Why 50 now looks different from our mothers’ generation
The pressures women still face to ‘do’ menopause and ageing right
Gendered ageism – at work, in society and in relationships
Ageist language we (all!) need to ditch
Tackling mental health and body image challenges in menopause and as we get older
Looking beyond menopause: how to eat, move and think for a healthy second half of life
How to find yourself again – and how to find the joy!
We’ll have a Q&A session at the end where you can ask all your burning health, wellbeing and hormone questions. You’ll leave feeling energised, empowered and ready to take on the next 30, 40, 50 or more years!
Menopause for men
A dedicated session in a safe space; a briefing on what you need to know as a male about menopause. Whether you’re working, living, or interacting with a woman, you will be affected by menopause. It can be tricky to navigate. In this session, I’ll give you the rundown on what you need to know; how to talk about it; how you can be an ally; how to broach tricky conversations and more - ask me (menopause expert and menopausal woman!) anything.
Menopause for men
Menopause for managers
A targeted session for anyone who’s leading a team. This is an in-depth workshop session for leaders and managers of people in perimenopause and menopause. I’ll cover what you need to know to not only offer empathetic support, but also to empower your people through this important life stage without compromising their mental or physical health, workplace wellbeing or career trajectory.
Menopause for managers
Women's Health Essentials
This more general health session focuses on health for women (though much of it is applicable to other genders too) and covers many of the questions I’m often asked by women of all ages: Women's Health Essentials
how should my health habits change for optimal health? What should I eat? How should I move?
How can I look after my body and brain to nurture my mental, physical and emotional wellbeing? And why is it so important to make friends with my body first? Packed with practical tips and inspiring ideas; you’ll come away feeling inspired and empowered; thinking beyond the surface and delving into what true health really means.
Video
Carrots and cupcakes: healthy eating made simple | Niki Bezzant | TEDxQueenstown
Even though we're surrounded by healthy eating advice, we seem to be getting more confused about how to eat - and less healthy. But the basics of healthy eating are simple: all we really need to know are six things about how to think about our food. Niki Bezzant is a nutrition and food writer and the founding editor, now editor-in-chief, of Healthy Food Guide magazine (New Zealand's top-selling food magazine). She is a weekly columnist for the Herald on Sunday, regularly blogs at healthyfood.co.nz and is a regular contributor to TV and radio.Niki's insights were one of the highlights of the year. Can’t recommend getting the ball rolling on this topic enough. ... keep reading Kiwibank
Niki presented with huge knowledge and in a very down to earth way, ensuring no embarrassment for anyone. Attendance at this session was the largest we have had, with our male and female employees of all ages attending, representing a genuine desire to learn more about how to cope and how best to support those going through menopause - whether it be a mum, partner, colleague or friend. Feedback from the session was extremely positive and it’s been great to break down such a taboo topic and make it a much more open and supportive conversation in our workplace.
What an absolutely fascinating session. I learnt a lot and now have more of an understanding of this important topic. As I lead a large team of people I often wonder how as a male do I open up discussion on this subject. Well done Niki for your insights and for such an informative session
