New research has shown that period poverty is an issue for teenagers and Māori youth in Aotearoa New Zealand, as many find it hard to afford menstrual products.
In February 2020, the Youth19 research group published its findings about period poverty in New Zealand. They found that a significant number of New Zealand teenagers are missing school because they can't afford menstrual products — with 19% of Māori youth experiencing period poverty, and 16% missing school because they couldn’t afford menstrual products. Lack of access to menstrual products can cause infections and health problems, as well as embarrassment and shame. Periods are an unavoidable cost and women and girls shouldn't be disadvantaged because of this.
Read more about period poverty in New Zealand — University of Auckland
Dignity — Creating period equity
Dignity is a local company that aims to ensure everyone has access to menstrual products in work and at school. Their “buy one, give one” approach lets businesses and organisations provide sanitary items to both their staff and others who don’t have access to pads and tampons.
For each box of sanitary items that a business buys, Dignity will supply an equivalent number of boxes to schools, youth organisations and women’s support services throughout New Zealand.
We'd like to thank Dignity, not only for supplying our residents with menstrual products, but for their advocacy on this important issue.
Find out how your business or organisation can support Dignity’s work — Dignity NZ
