Period poverty is a critical issue in Tāmaki Makaurau affecting thousands of menstruators across the region who struggle to access basic hygiene products.
The Period Place distributes donated period products to community groups working with low-income families who frequently report stories of menstruators who must choose between buying food or period products, often resorting to makeshift solutions that are unhygienic, unsafe, and damaging to their dignity and well-being.
People unable to afford period products have reduced ability to participate in their community, which negatively impacts mental and physical health.
An August 2024 survey of menstruators across Aotearoa, with a 35% representation from Tāmaki, showed that:
20% have needed to rely on accessing products from friends, community groups and workplaces because they could not afford them.
39% say their period causes financial anxiety/stress.
31% have had to use makeshift products.
32% have experienced a period where they couldn’t afford necessary period products.
48% have worried about how they will access period products outside the home if they run out.
91% have worried about leakage of blood through to outer clothes.
96% are unable to change period products when they want to outside of the home.
Gaps in the current system
While the central government period products in schools programme has made significant strides in addressing this problem for young people, it only solves part of the issue as it stops at the school gate.
This leaves large numbers of menstruators in communities without access to products.
The Period Place receives regular requests for donated products from Auckland Council facilities, such as Studio One, and users of these facilities, including Netball Manurewa and CLM Community Sports Impact and faith groups.
Community need
Auckland’s community and sports facilities serve a diverse population, including women, transgender men, non-binary people, and individuals experiencing homelessness or financial hardship.
Many of these people do not have reliable access to period products, which perpetuates cycles of poverty and shame.
There is a unique opportunity to address this unmet need by ensuring that period products are available in all community and sports facilities across the city.
This would be a vital step toward achieving menstrual equity, promoting health and hygiene, and enabling full participation in community life—regardless of gender or economic status.
Community engagement and findings
After meetings with key organisations including CCS Disability Action, Netball Manurewa, ActionStation, Rainbow Youth, Grandparents Raising Grandkids), there is a shared concern about the lack of access to period products in public facilities.
Upcoming meetings are planned with Sisters United and CLM Community Sport.
Te Ohu member organisations, Communities Feeding Communities, Belong Aotearoa, Pacific Women’s Watch, and the Māori Women’s Welfare League, have expressed interest in addressing this issue.
Ensuring period products are available in all community and sports facilities would be a crucial step towards menstrual equity in Auckland, promoting health and hygiene, and enabling full community participation.
Listening campaign proposal
This is a six-month listening campaign across Tāmaki Makaurau’s diverse community and sports facilities to understand the full impact of period poverty.
It will engage with users from sports clubs, cultural groups, faith-based organisations and community groups.
It will include table talks, relational meetings and culturally relevant forms of meetings across communities.
This will help identify passionate leaders, understand community needs, and develop key solutions for menstrual equity.
Personal stories and lived experiences will highlight how the lack of access impacts participation in public life, education, sports, and social engagement.
The campaign will surface specific barriers to accessing products, helping to design targeted, culturally appropriate solutions.
Key objectives
Provide a platform for underrepresented voices including low-income families, transgender men, non-binary people, and those experiencing homelessness to share their experiences.
Offer insights into the nuances of period poverty across different demographics and communities.
Inform the design of targeted solutions for sports, cultural, faith-based, and community groups.
Foster a sense of ownership in the communities, increasing participation and support for initiatives.
Guide resource allocation to ensure period products are available in facilities where they will have the greatest impact.
Other member organisations and leaders that are interested in signing on to this listening campaign can register their interest by contacting Kate Palmer at [email protected]