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Period Poverty and New Zealand’s Response:
“In Aotearoa, period poverty refers to the lack of access to period products and education, leading to challenges in work, school, and daily life.”1 Because menstrual products are not free, they are considered a “luxury” rather than a “necessity”. Almost a quarter of people who menstruate in Aotearoa NZ have missed school or work because they have been unable to afford menstrual items. Some resort to makeshift measures... this leads to an increased risk of infection. Some even resort to shoplifting the menstrual products they need.”2 This shows the scale of this issue and how many women are affected globally by period poverty. Period poverty primarily affects low-income women, teens and marginalized groups such as people of colour, trans men and non-binary individuals, globally. Also, the “pink tax”, which is the extra amount of money women pay for products compared to men, is a gender-based pricing and also affects many low-income women. This issue is significant because it impacts people’s health. Using unsafe makeshift measures or having to shoplift products could make women feel stressed or embarrassed for something they can’t even help, which is why our goal is to make menstrual products considered a health essential, as well as free for everyone.

Background and Development of the issue:
The New Zealand Government has initiated a major policy change in June 2021 which states that “all primary, intermediate, secondary school and kura students will have access to free period products.”3 While this was great for students, it still didn’t put an end to period poverty for the rest of the women in New Zealand. In New Zealand, there is also a 15% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on menstrual products unlike other places like Australia or Canada that had removed sales tax on period products. Research says that “by removing the GST on menstrual products, we can help to alleviate period poverty and increase accessibility to these necessary items.”4 Because of this, thousands of women across New Zealand are forced to suffer, causing them to miss out on work, school and everyday life. Removing the tax and making menstrual products free protects women’s dignity and health, and it makes sure that they are no longer considered a “luxury”. Even with new policy changes the government has implemented, period poverty is still a global ongoing issue rather than a one-off event that developed as a result of poverty. By making menstrual products a “necessity” and completely free for everyone, it allows for all women to feel safe and comfortable.

Policy related to the issue: Make menstrual products essential health products and make them free for everyone:
New Zealand’s key current policy of period poverty is the Ikura programmes, which is administered by the Ministry of Education. It allows students to take enough products for school and home. While this policy does eliminate aspects of period poverty, the programme is not indefinite, as it is only funded to around June 2028. As well as this, this policy does not involve every school, especially in homeschooling situations. The need for menstrual products also evolves outside of school, where individuals are more likely in need of these products. “Menstrual justice recognizes menstrual health as a human right, but also acknowledges meeting menstrual needs as a prerequisite for realizing other human rights, including access to education, public space, dignity and autonomy.”5 This shows that having access to period products and proper health information is a basic human right and also means that if people don’t have what they need they can’t have other basic human rights like going to school, go to work or go out in public.

Change being sought through social action:

The social action aims to get government organizations such as Pharmac and the Ministry of Health to officially classify period products as essential health products and make them free for everyone in New Zealand. This change is needed as many individuals go without the basic menstrual products they need and often use unsafe and unsanitary items. As well as this, many feel uncomfortable, and thus their basic work, school or social life is affected. If the policy change occurred, it would result in rights for everyone to have free basic menstrual products, and would be classified as an essential health product, meaning everyone would deserve free products to keep them safe and comfortable. 

Responsibility for Decision-making:
The responsibility for this policy is with government organisations, specifically Pharmac, Medsafe and Ministry of Health, as period poverty is a public health and equity issue. Their involvement helps make sure menstrual products are treated as health essentials rather than luxuries. 
 
Participation and Influence: 
Dignity NZ is a charity who’s mission is to “make period products accessible to everyone who needs them, so no one misses out on work, education, sport, or anything else in life.”6 The Salvation Army is another charity that says that “when women cannot afford or do not have access to sanitary products or facilities, they resort to makeshift or unsafe products, experience ostracism, and miss important growth opportunities.”7 Finally, the general public can also influence the issue. People can choose to participate by signing petitions, donating menstrual products, or writing to Members of Parliament. 
Different Viewpoints: 
 
 
References:
1. What is Period Poverty: How We’re Creating Change | Dignity. (n.d.). Dignity NZ. https://www.dignitynz.com/pages/period-poverty-advocacy

2. Site designed and developed by Journey digital ltd, Auckland, New Zealand (www.journey-digital.com (n.d.). Period poverty in Aotearoa, New Zealand. https://www.ywca.org.nz/insights/period-poverty/ 

3. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/free-period-products-be-available-all-schools-and-kura  

4. Remove GST on menstrual products in New Zealand. (n.d.). OurActionStation. https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/remove-gst-on-menstrual-products-in-new-zealand 
  
5. Logie, C., Winkler, I., Narasimhan, M., Bhakta, A., Hutchingame, T., Reynolds, T., Maschette, U., Okore, S., Ngumi, S. N. W., & Barrington, D. (2024). Menstruation and sexual health, well-being and justice. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 102(12), 904–906. https://doi.org/10.2471/blt.23.291159 
 
6. Dignity NZ. (n.d.). Empowering Periods: Accessibility for all | Dignity NZ. https://www.dignitynz.com/ 

7. Putting period poverty in the spotlight - The Salvation Army NZFTS. (n.d.-b). The Salvation Army NZFTS. https://www.salvationarmy.org.nz/putting-period-poverty-spotlight/