Thanks to a special partnership, Visionwest, a West Auckland trust, is now able to supply free period products through
their food support service, Whai Manaaki Kai.
The statistics relating to period product poverty are rather confronting. Findings from the Youth19 Survey found 12% of
Year 9 to 13 students reported difficulty getting access to products due to cost. Research from the University of Otago
found that 94,788 girls aged 9 to 18 from the country's poorest households may be unable to afford to buy products and
could be missing school when they have their period. This figure is thought to be increasing significantly year by year.Representatives from Visionwest, Fair Food, The Salvation Army, South Auckland Christian Food Bank and The Period Place
packing boxes of period products at NZFN. (Photo/Supplied)
Now, The Period Place has teamed up with the New Zealand Food Network (NZFN) to provide millions of donated period
products nationwide. As one of NZFN’s partnering food hubs, this means Visionwest will be able to help West Auckland
whānau who are finding things financially tough right now.
Renee, Visionwest’s Kai Security Manager, said, “It’s invaluable to be able to offer these amazing products to any
female that comes through our services. Pretty much every family that comes through every day – mothers, aunties,
daughters, granddaughters – are requesting period products. There’s a desperate need.”
Providing free period products helps reduce barriers to school attendance and sports involvement, improves child and
youth wellbeing and reduces strain on families and whānau.
Whānau needing support can contact Visionwest’s Whānau Centre, phone 0800 990 026.