In our story series ‘How Are You Today?’, we have a meandering, mental-health focused chat with some of our most well-known New Zealanders. Check out previous chats with people like Hayley Holt, Kiri Allan and Jacinda Ardern. Today we talk to Melissa Chan-Green about redundancy, her family, looking after your health in your 40s and her work with the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.
2024 has been a hell of a big year for Melissa Chan-Green. She’s been one of our most trusted broadcast journalists for the last two decades, most recently as one of the hosts of AM, what used to be Newshub’s morning TV show.
Mel was juggling her busy job with two young kids – her son Busby, who was born in 2020 and daughter Mabel, who was born last year. Mel loved her job, and loved her colleagues – so it was a huge shock and disappointed when it was announced that the show was ending, in fact Newshub was closing and she and her colleagues would soon be out of a job. It was a slow, drawn out process that took an emotional toll. But, now, Mel can see all the positives that have come out of it and says she’s better off for having the experience.
Now, she’s been spending more time on getting some balance in her life. She’s realised the importance of her time – and her health, as she gets further into her early 40s. This month she’s also working closely with the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ – a cause that’s close to her heart, after she lost both a relative and a friend to breast cancer, both of whom were in their 40s.
Melissa is the spokesperson for this year’s Sealy Designer Bedroom fundraiser. This year’s campaign sees a collaboration with Wallace Cotton, where two bespoke Sealy x Wallace Cotton Posturepedic beds are being auctioned on TradeMe from 21 – 30 October 2024, with all proceeds being donated to BCFNZ.
Here, we talk about that experience, her health, her family, being in her 40s and how she’s feeling after everything this year threw at her…
How are you today, Melissa?
Today, I’m great actually. I have been to Pilates, I’m doing a bit of work, and have been out in the fresh air, in the sun, so today I’m great. And most days I’m great, actually! I have been able to really focus on my health lately, which I haven’t always prioritised, but I think it is really important for women of a certain age!
Wow, it sounds like you’re getting a lot more balance in your life! I definitely noticed when I turned 40 that the messaging around health really started to kick in. And it’s on that topic that we’re chatting today too – because you’re involved with the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ again this year, and there’s a particular fundraiser you’re leading this month. Can you tell us a bit more about it?
Yes, so I’ve always had a good relationship with them, because I’ve done quite a number of interviews with them over the years, and through that, I really got to know just how much they are needed, both in terms of research, but also in the help that they give people who have breast cancer and also their families. I feel quite strongly about being able to help them when I can.
So this fundraiser is an auction of Sealy beds – which I think are absolutely stunning. And I felt this was important to support – I also have a relative and a friend who both passed away from breast cancer in their 40s. I could count probably three other friends who have had it. I also have three sisters, and luckily, we haven’t been affected by breast cancer directly, but it’s something that definitely weighs on your mind, especially as you hit 40.
Oh Melissa, I’m so sorry to hear that. Forty is just too young.
Thank you, it is. And they both had a number of children, so it really hits home. We can’t get free breast screening in New Zealand until we’re 45, but it’s something we really need to be on top of before then, and doing regular checks. It’s particularly important from 40 – you have to be really vigilant.
I think too, because I’ve had kids a littler later in life – they’re so young. It really does make you appreciate the value of being around and how important it is to look after your health.
I totally hear you on that. I had my son about the same time you had your second – right around my 40th birthday.
Yes! I turned 40 and then a week later I had her!
So similar! I had him two weeks after I turned 40! My health was something I didn’t always prioritize – but having children has made me aware of how important it is. I need to be here for them! It’s great that we seem to be talking about women’s health lately – particularly perimenopause and menopause – but… it’s still difficult to actually find the time to really look after yourself. Particularly when you’re working, and you’ve got small children. Do you find it a struggle sometimes? What do you do to make sure you’re looking after yourself – both physically and mentally?
I think I’ve always been so determined and ambitious – and a hard worker when it comes to work. I just got to a point recently where I was like, well, why don’t I put that same dedication and that same determinedness into looking after myself? It was a bit of a light bulb moment. Why do I just always put that on the back burner when really that is the most important thing that we have?
Then, just through chats with my friends – because yes, as you said, women are talking more about women’s health issues. We just had our first Women’s Health Week this year, and women are finally talking about perimenopause. So now my friends and I are having those discussions and realising, oh yeah, I’m feeling the same and my body’s going through the same changes! So now it’s about making sure I look after myself for my kids and doing things a bit smarter – like what are the best exercises for women over 40?
What’s the biggest thing you’ve done differently since turning 40?
I think definitely since having kids things have changed – I was never good at saying no before. Then I realised, if I’m saying yes to something, it’s kind of saying no to family time. So it really has to be something important. That has made me much better at saying no, because I have realised the value of my time – and now, I’m realising the value of my health and how important it is to invest in that.
That sounds fantastic – because, particularly when you’re so busy, it’s so easy to just take your body and health for granted! Now, tell me about how you’re doing after everything that has happened this year. You’ve had a huge upheaval this year. How are you feeling?
Well, I’m good. I mean, it felt pretty heavy at the time, but now I’m like, oh my gosh, I’ve had some sleep, I’ve had some time with my kids, I’m looking after myself and I’m in a really good space now. So, I feel like on the whole, it feels like it’s been a positive experience. That’s probably a bit strange to say, but I feel like I have grown from it, you know what I mean?
I 100% know what you mean. You know our story of how the three of us were made redundant a week into lockdown – and I still feel uncomfortable saying it sometimes, but, yes, I still think of that redundancy as being the best thing that could have happened to me (outside of my kids and my husband, of course!). For me, it caused such a shift in my priorities. Why was I working myself to death – for the benefit of a big corporation? I realised there was so much more to life – and how important my health, and my joy was. I realised that my health and my joy was my responsibility. And it’s actually quite incredible what other opportunities find you when you change your mindset.
Yeah, that’s cool. And also, for you guys, especially in magazines, it’s just such a grind! As soon as that grinds finished, you’re into the next one, it’s relentless. So I don’t think it’s until you can, until you stop, that you get a bit of perspective on, on the impact that that has on you.
Oh that’s so on the money. And it’s so true for so many situations – when you’re in a really busy, stressful situation, you’re really just trying to tread water and stay afloat. It’s not until you’re out of that situation that you realise how bad it was and the toll it was taking.
Definitely, you need the space to reflect! I do need to say though, in case my husband reads this thing, because he probably will, it’s not perfect! [Laughs] Because sometimes he’s still like, “just slow down! Rest!”. I’m not always the best at it, but I have made it a priority. I’m not someone who can sit still too long – I mean you guys must be the same, you started Capsule pretty quick.
Yeah, good point, it was only three weeks later that we launched…
But it’s a different pace and a totally different thing when you’re doing it for yourself. But yes, I’m not perfect but I’m waaaay better now.
What would you say has been your highlight of the year?
I think I would have to say actually the time that I have had, particularly before Mabel started day care, just some really special time with the kids at home. It was just really slow and there wasn’t much going on. That was pretty special. You don’t often get time like that, so I think I will always look at the period I’ve been able to do that really fondly.
Totally, the more time goes past, the more I’m realising the biggest luxury we have is time. What a cool way to spend it. Is there anything that you’ve learned about yourself this year that’s come as a surprise?
I think I’ve learned lots, but I think I can’t really talk about it now until I talk about what I’m going to be doing next, which I can’t quite talk about at the moment! But I think I’ve learned that I can sleep much longer than I thought! [Laughs] When I was doing AM I wasn’t sleeping that much and I thought I just wasn’t that great at sleeping. But, I really can. Turns out I really can.
Are you going to be making any New Year’s resolutions?
I don’t usually make New Year’s resolutions, but I set like a focus. I think the focus of next year will be balance. Definitely better balance, and just really enjoying the year, because the beginning of this year was quite an emotional roller coaster. My focus next year will be having balance, and to do my best to always make sure I’m enjoying whatever it is I’m doing in the moment.
Beautiful! Well, thanks so much for chatting today Mel, and I’m so happy for you – I know we can’t discuss it just yet, but I’m thrilled to hear there’s something exciting in the works for you. You’re fantastic at what you do, so I’m glad we’ll be seeing more of you.
Thank you! Talk soon!