Nearly all NZ state schools now offer free period products, but calls grow to expand

Almost all state schools have opted in to a Ministry of Education scheme to provide free period products for students, but there’s growing support to extend the scheme further.

The Labour Government made global headlines in 2021 when it introduced the programme to tackle period poverty.

Ministry data shows 2343 schools have opted in (about 95% of those eligible), meaning an estimated 98% of menstruating students now have access to products.

A 2020 KidsCan survey found more than 21% of students in decile one schools had missed school because of a lack of period products, with 14% missing more than a day each month.

The ministry spends between $131,380 and $237,247 a month on the scheme, with more than 31.6 million products distributed to date.

Youth health advocate Dame Sue Bagshaw said it’s fantastic so many schools have taken up the scheme, but said how it’s delivered in schools still matters.

“I know the fear of embarrassment is a big barrier for a lot of young people, especially the younger ones,” she said.

“And I’m hoping that schools are making sure that those kind of barriers are removed, like leaving products in toilets so that young women can just help themselves and not too many regulations about who’s able to have them and who’s not.”

Education Minister Erica Stanford said the Government has secured the scheme’s future by baselining funding.

She said this ensures products will be available indefinitely for students who need them, without stress, uncertainty or having to avoid school because of a lack of availability.

“Through our funding, all schools can opt in to the programme. Decisions to utilise the programme sits with individual schools,” Stanford said.

She declined to comment on any expansion of the programme or funding commitments beyond 2028.

Labour’s education spokesperson Ginny Andersen said the party “absolutely” backs free period products in schools and kura.

She said Labour is open to expanding the scheme, potentially to universities.

“I understand most universities are already offering free period products in their restrooms."

Bagshaw also supports expanding the scheme to universities or even food banks, but says it needs to stay focused on those who need it most.

“We need to honour our wāhine. And that means making sure they are looked after, and not having to, make do with rags because they can’t afford these products.”

“It would be really interesting to gather some feedback from students as to how easy it is to access the free products, because I don’t know if anybody has done a study into this.”

Bagshaw is keen to see New Zealand follow in Scotland’s footsteps and eventually legally mandate free access to period products.

It was the first country to do so in 2022.

She said New Zealand still has a lot more work to do in recognising period poverty.

“Everybody wants everybody to have food, and food banks are kind of overflowing with applicants. But nobody talks about period products, and yes, we need food, but if you go without period products, what are you going to do?”

“You’re going back to the rag situation again, like back in the 40s, because people can’t afford it,” Bagshaw said.

“So when you’re donating, if anyone is generous enough to donate to food banks, think about donating period products too.”

Jaime Cunningham is a Christchurch-based reporter with a focus on education, social issues and general news. She joined Newstalk ZB in 2023 after working as a sports reporter at the Christchurch Star.