In support of Te Wiki Hauora Wāhine | Women’s Health Week, 11–17 August 2025
Women’s Health Week (Te Wiki Hauora Wāhine) is a long-overdue initiative in Aotearoa. A time for all wāhine, cisgender, transgender, and gender-diverse individuals to pause and prioritise their health. Running from 11 to 17 August 2025, this national week celebrates the strength of New Zealand women while highlighting the unique health challenges they may face.
Until recently, New Zealand had no official health week dedicated to women. Whereas there are national campaigns for prostate cancer, mental health, and men’s wellbeing. Wāhine carry enormous responsibility often as the primary caregivers, decision-makers, and health advocates within their whānau. Many put their own well-being last.
As Tend co-founder Cecilia Robinson shared in launching this kaupapa:
“It is vital for more women to understand that their wellbeing is important and that taking care of themselves is a sign of strength… I hope the conversations shared during Women’s Health Week help all women out there in their health journey.”
At Smith Biomed, we believe access to simple, accurate health information is a powerful step toward better outcomes. That’s why we offer a range of at-home diagnostic tests designed to support women at every life stage.
1. Vitamin D and Women’s Health
Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and plays a critical role in maintaining strong, healthy bones. For women, low vitamin D levels are a significant contributor to osteoporosis, a condition that results in weakened bones and increases the risk of fractures. This can lead to significant morbidity and even mortality. Despite this, vitamin D deficiency often goes undetected.
The Smith Biomed Vitamin D Deficiency Test is a quick and affordable way to check your vitamin D levels from home. Using a simple finger-prick blood sample, the test measures your levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
Many women don’t realise they’re low in vitamin D until bone health starts to suffer. Testing is a simple way to monitor your levels and take action. By identifying and addressing a deficiency early, you’re actively supporting your strength, mobility, and future independence.
2. Ovulation Testing: Timing Matters When You’re Trying to Conceive
Conception depends on accurate timing, but ovulation isn’t always predictable. For many women, stress, travel, hormonal fluctuations, or health conditions can alter the timing of their fertility window.
The Smith Biomed Baby Now Ovulation Test helps identify your most fertile days by detecting a surge in Luteinising Hormone (LH), the hormonal trigger that precedes ovulation. Knowing exactly when you ovulate can improve your chances of conception.
Regular ovulation tracking helps you understand your cycle and pinpoint the most fertile days that give you the best chance of conceiving.
3. Menopause Awareness: Detecting the Transition Early
Menopause is a natural part of life, but the changes it brings, such as disturbed sleep, hot flashes, and hormonal changes, can be hard to navigate. The years leading up to menopause, known as perimenopause, often begin earlier than expected and can go unrecognised.
The Smith Biomed Menocheck Menopause Test offers a simple way to check whether changing hormone levels, particularly FSH, may be contributing to your symptoms. It’s a helpful first step for women in their 40s or those seeking clarity before approaching their GP or specialist.
Supporting Māori Wāhine on the 9th of August
As part of Women’s Health Week, the 9th of August marks International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. An opportunity to acknowledge and support the health and well-being of Māori wāhine in Aotearoa.
Māori women play vital roles within their whānau and hapori, yet many experience unequal access to healthcare and underdiagnosis of preventable conditions like iron deficiency, diabetes, and reproductive health concerns.
At Smith Biomed, we believe in supporting mana motuhake and health autonomy by making trusted, at-home tests available to all communities. These tools provide a private way for all Wāhine to take action, ask questions, and seek further care when needed.
We acknowledge the strength of Indigenous women and remain committed to improving access to health options for every wāhine in Aotearoa.
4. Iron Deficiency: When Tiredness Is More Than Just Being Busy
Low iron is one of the most common and underdiagnosed health concerns for women in Aotearoa. Heavy periods, pregnancy, dietary restrictions, and conditions like coeliac disease can all lead to depleted iron stores.
If you’re feeling unusually tired, foggy, or short of breath, it could be more than just stress or from having a busy schedule. The Smith Biomed Ferritin (Iron Deficiency) Test allows you to check your iron stores from home using a quick finger-prick blood sample.
Ferritin is the most accurate indicator of iron levels, and catching a deficiency early can help prevent more serious health impacts, including anaemia.
5. Urinary Tract Infections: Early Action Makes a Difference
UTIs are common among women and often come with painful symptoms like a burning sensation when urinating lower abdominal discomfort, and the constant urge to go even when your bladder is empty.
The Smith Biomed Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Test helps detect signs of infection from the comfort of home. With fast, reliable results, it’s an easy way to decide whether you need to seek further treatment.
For women prone to recurrent infections, an at-home UTI test offers peace of mind and helps you take early action before symptoms get worse.
This Women’s Health Week, Take the First Step
Te Wiki Hauora Wāhine (11–17 August 2025) is an opportunity to initiate conversations about fertility, menopause, mental load, or simply feeling heard. It’s a reminder that your health matters. You matter.
Let this be your moment to check in with yourself, take action where needed, and encourage the wāhine around you to do the same.
Explore Smith Biomed’s full range of women’s health tests here.