Out Loud: Talking About Women’s Health
- Rebecca Pettitt
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
As many wāhine will know, finding accurate advice on health and wellness can feel like a bit of a minefield. As women, we move through many different seasons of life, from our teens to our twenties, motherhood to menopause, each bringing its own changes and challenges. Yet despite how universal these experiences are, conversations around women’s health can still feel isolating, confusing, or even embarrassing.
That’s exactly what local wāhine, businesswoman, and event organiser Bridgette Penny hopes to change with Out Loud: Talking About Women’s Health, an upcoming event designed to bring education, openness, and genuine connection into one room.
When we sat down with Bridgette over coffee to yarn about women’s wellness, it was hard not to get swept up in her enthusiasm. Bridgette told us stories of her own journey into health and wellness, and how that journey connected her with the five inspiring women who are now coming together as speakers for the event. Each brings expertise from a different corner of the wellness world, creating what Bridgette describes as a truly holistic approach to women’s health.
With speakers spanning fields including functional movement, menopause, physiotherapy, and vaginal health, attendees can expect a day packed with practical knowledge, honest kōrero, and empowering conversations. More importantly, Bridgette says, the event is about helping people feel less alone in their experiences.
“This event is essentially a complete round-up of everything I wish I’d known about women’s health and wellness in my twenties and thirties,” she says. “It’s definitely not just for menopausal women. Any woman interested in her health, clinicians and health professionals, young mums, and anyone who wants to support the women in their life are all welcome. Learning from these wāhine can benefit everyone.”
Those attending will hear from Dr Linda Dear, a.k.a Menodoctor, a menopause health specialist; local physiotherapist Margie Humphreys; Dr Katarzyna Mackenzie, one of only a few female plastic and reconstructive surgeons in New Zealand; functional strength and movement specialist Aimee Challies; and Dr Mirjana Janjic, a medical laser specialist focusing on vaginal health.
While the expertise on offer is impressive, Bridgette believes the heart of the event lies in the connections being built throughout the day. In a place like Gisborne, where face-to-face connection and community matter deeply, creating a space where women can openly ask questions, gain knowledge, and connect with both speakers and each other feels especially meaningful.
“There’s something really powerful about women being in the same room, having honest conversations and realising they’re not the only ones experiencing certain things,” Bridgette says. “So many of these topics are normal parts of life, but we often don’t talk about them openly enough.”
True to the holistic kaupapa behind the event, the included lunch will feature healthy, nutrient-dense kai and treats that reflect the importance of food as medicine when it comes to overall wellbeing. Guests will also receive a wellness bag valued at more than $400, packed with thoughtfully selected goodies from local and international businesses, along with information and contacts for essential services. There’ll also be plenty of spot prizes up for grabs on the day.
Bridgette says the overwhelming support from local sponsors and businesses has played a huge role in bringing the event to life. It’s a day celebrating all wāhine and making lifetime connections, with sponsors making it possible.
At its core, Out Loud is more than just a wellness event. It’s an invitation to learn, connect, and have the kinds of conversations that can genuinely change lives.
Info below:
Date: May 30th
Time: 9 am - 3 pm
Where: Waikanae Surf Lifesaving Club
