Period Equity In Aotearoa: Commendations On A Drop In The Ocean

We commend the Coalition Government for its commitment to
funding the continuation of the period products in schools
programme – Ikura | Manaakitia te whare tangata – for
another year.

We urge all stakeholders to join us in
congratulating the Coalition Government, particularly at a
time when public service spending is being cut, as it
reflects the ongoing and critical issue of period inequity
in Aotearoa.

Alongside others in the menstrual health
ecosystem, we are pleased to see the Coalition Government
listening to the arguments put forward in favor of
continuing the programme and are delighted that collective
advocacy is making a bloody impact.

While this
programme is undeniably beneficial for students who are
girls, non-binary, and trans and get periods at school, it
is essential to recognise that it represents only a fraction
of the mahi needed to eliminate period poverty and achieve
true period equity in Aotearoa.

Systemic menstrual
stigma and taboos prevent individuals from learning about
menstrual health and accessing the support they need, when
they need it.

The Coalition Government has committed
$2.9 million for period products in state, state-integrated,
and kura schools for the next year.

The
Period Place estimates that each month 70,000
individuals experience the most severe period inequity in
Aotearoa.

Addressing this requires $4.2 million worth
of period products to meet basic menstrual health needs over
the same timeframe. This does not take into account
individuals experiencing their menstrual cycle outside of
the ‘normal’ range, nor does it cover any further
associated costs for a menstrual cycle (such as overnight
pads, pain relief, purchasing of underwear or clothes to
replace stained ones, etc.).

Additionally, the lack of
access extends to education about menstrual health. While
there is an extensive range of age-appropriate menstrual
health information available (across a lifetime), people are
not always properly informed about their bodies.
Understanding what is normal and what isn’t for menstrual
cycles is crucial, as is knowing the basic biology behind
menstruation.

Another cycle occurs where girls, women,
non-binary, and trans menstruators are not fully informed
about or understand what their bodies are doing.

While
commendable, the school programme is one step forward in the
journey to eliminating period poverty and period inequity in
Aotearoa.

Achieving this requires a shared commitment
from all sectors of society alongside government, including
businesses, healthcare providers, educational institutions,
community groups, and individuals. Progress can be
accelerated through:

Removing the stigma around
non-binary and trans individuals who also have menstrual
cycles. All communication from the Coalition Government has
referred to ‘girls’ and ‘women’ only. At The Period
Place, we centre the lived experience of most people who get
periods while also being inclusive by saying ‘girls,
women, non-binary, and trans people who have menstrual
cycles’.

Removing period stigma by normalising
conversations about periods and access to period products at
schools, workplaces, homes, friendship groups, and within
whānau across generations.

Ensuring age-appropriate
menstrual health education is provided to everybody (whether
they get a period or not!) as people enter different ages
and stages across lifetimes.

Ensuring every bathroom
outside the home has access to period products, just like it
has access to toilet paper, soap, and handwashing facilities
for other personal health management.

We welcome the
opportunity to discuss full menstrual health equity for
society with Government ministers, business and community
leaders, and to hear from those who support our
approach.

About the author

Danika Revell is
CEO and co-founder of The Period Place, the largest period
equity charity in Aotearoa New
Zealand.

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