Free period products available to all NZ schools & kura from June this year
This is great news. Period poverty is a significant issue, keeping people from participating in school and other aspects of society, perpetuating cycles of disadvantage.
The Youth19 team welcomes this and encourages all schools and kura to take up the programme. This should include primary schools; significant numbers of people get their first period in primary school. It should also include wealthier schools, whose students may also be affected by period poverty.
Schools and kura should make sure students can access these products without embarrassment and that basics such as bins in bathrooms are available.
While this is an excellent initiative, it does not address period poverty for those out of school, period poverty in school holidays etc., or other forms of poverty. Many students affected by period poverty are also affected by food poverty, school uniform poverty, housing insecurity etc. All should have access to sufficient income to allow them to attend school and participate in society, rather than needing to take up free period products, food parcels and other sometimes embarrassing, time-consuming and piecemeal supports that inevitably leave gaps.
We are delighted that Youth19 data and years of advocacy by many people have led to this decision and encourage the government to take bold steps to ensure that all young people have opportunities to thrive.