Pledge for period poverty action

Students could soon have free access to period products, with Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter foreshadowing fresh policy to be delivered by Budget 2020.

The news came as a petition with 3015 signatures was presented to MPs at a cross-party breakfast at the Beehive yesterday, calling for free period products for young women. It also called for students to be given menstrual education, including information on sustainable period products, and a national strategy to ensure young women had ‘‘dignity, access and support’’.

The petition highlighted the commitment British governments had made in providing free period products, and that current initiatives in New Zealand were not benefiting those most in need.

Genter said addressing period poverty was a ‘‘priority’’ for Prime

Jacinta Gulasekharam

Minister Jacinda Ardern and fresh policy was in the pipeline. ‘‘We want to make sure no girl at school is missing out because she does not have access to period products ... this is a priority for our government, and I am very confident we will have an announcement before the Budget on progress on this,’’ Genter said.

Knowing her petition was gaining traction at a parliamentary level was welcome news for Positive Periods’ Jacinta Gulasekharam.

‘‘I think it is welcome but more details would be great; it seems like we are still going to be in the dark going into Christmas and there is a bit of a cone of silence around what is actually going to happen on this issue.’’

Gulasekharam hoped social enterprises and researchers working in the area would be consulted for the policy.

This year, KidsCan has provided more than 30,000 packets of sanitary products to about 100 schools.

‘‘There is a bit of a cone of silence around what is actually going to happen on this issue.’’