Hygiene products are to be provided free of charge in all New Zealand schools in a bid to end

All schools in New Zealand will provide free sanitary products from June 2021, Prime Minister Ardern announced, in a move aimed at ending "menstrual poverty" in the country. In New Zealand, a pilot program launched in mid-2020 provided free menstrual hygiene products to about 3,200 students in 15 schools, with good results, the report said.

Ardern said: "Providing free menstrual hygiene products in schools is a way for the government to tackle poverty directly, helping to improve school attendance and having a positive impact on children's wellbeing. We want to see improvements in engagement, learning and behaviour, to see fewer young people out of school because of their periods, and hopefully to reduce financial hardship for families of participating students."

Ardern pointed to research showing that one in 12 students in New Zealand is out of school because of "menstrual poverty." She said the plan would cost 25 million New Zealand dollars ($17.96 million) and run until 2024.