As part of a three-week tour of New Zealand, she was in Dunedin last week talking to school pupils, church leaders and the public about her work with the fair trade movement.
Her trip coincided with Fair Trade Fortnight and she felt "honoured" to be part of it.
In the 1980s, after finding out about the working conditions of Nepalese women, she founded the Association of Craft Producers to support and politically empower them.
Despite working 11-hour days, Nepalese women were not paid for their work.
Wages instead went to a male family member or their husband, she said.
The association and fair trade movement transformed the lives of women in the country.
By gaining control of money, women were given a say in the family, became respected in the community and started believing in themselves.
The movement had also impacted on the consumer conscience, with more people wanting to know where their goods were made, by whom and how much the producer was paid.
"Our influence is great. Our impact is great," Ms Bhattarai said.
In order for fair trade to continue to grow, it needed to take on some corporate aspects.
The newly refurbished Trade Aid store in Dunedin was evidence of how merchandising and marketing affected sales.
Fair trade products needed to be appealing and pushed into the mainstream so more consumers would buy them, she said.
"Fair trade has got a beautiful, beautiful future."
